Heavy snow and danger of avalanches caused key road arteries to close. The strategic Lars-Stepantsminda highway was closed due to the danger of avalanches on Saturday, cutting Georgia and Armenia from Russia
The official Novruz Holiday is 21 March, which is also recognised by the United Nations as World Novruz Day.Nowruz is the name of the Iranian New Year,also known as the Persian New Year,which is celebrated worldwide by the Iranian peoples, along with some other ethno-linguistic groups, as the beginning of the New Year.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, said that Russia expects "the gradual restoration of bilateral cooperation with Ankara to benefit peace, security and stability in Transcaucasia."
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan at the Kremlin on Wednesday (15 March). Sargsyan is currently on an official visit to the Russian Federation.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildrim made a short unplanned visit to the Georgian Black Sea port of Batumi on Wednesday evening (15 March) on his way back to Turkey from Athens.