The President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan opened renovated Sarpi border crossing point in a festive atmosphere today. They toured the new facility of border crossing point. Mikheil Saakashvili explained in details the principles of working process of new border crossing point with to the Turkish Prime Minister.

"There are 18 exists from Georgian side and from Turkish side 16. It is necessary to take a technical decision jointly in order to fasten the traffic on both sides and our citizens don't have to stand in long lines. Especially when the number of these people will increase, we have 35 people working at customs and you just three. We are going to increase number of our custom's officers up to 65. We have to make sure that Georgians, who are coming here not to be delayed on half way", Mikheil Saakashvili noted.

Mikheil Saakashvili met Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at Batumi international airport. The leaders of two countries moved to the House of Justice right after the airport where a tête-à-tête meeting was held between Mikheil Saakashvili and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Sides discussed the issues of trade and economy and the simplification of visa regime between two countries. It was noted that starting from today direct flights between Ankara and Batumi will be held regularly. As the representatives of the Governments noted this will support the deepening of economic cooperation and the increase of the number of tourists between Turkey and Georgia.

"Turkish Airlines fully conducts flights and it was your initiative. Now the flights from Istanbul are conducted every day and flights from Ankara will be conducted three times a week. This place has to become a point of destination for Turkish people because they like this situation very much and they know that you like it here as well", the President of Georgia noted.

Today the agreement was signed and changes were made to the contract signed on April 4, 1996. Due to these changes starting from July 1 the citizens of Georgia and Turkey will cross the borders on the bases of ID cards. Sarpi border crossing point will start fully functioning from today. It fully adheres to the international standards. Waiting halls are separated here and the customs officers will be able to serve 10 automobiles and 9 trailers in a minute. The custom's employees will serve about 600 means of transportation in 24 hours.