A Turkish diplomat rejected some Greek Cypriot charges that the north opened checkpoints as a ruse to win recognition.
The Soviets, the cable traffic showed, wanted the East Germans to make the Berlin Wall less offensive to the West, opening more checkpoints or easing travel restrictions on people who wanted to visit their relatives.
Mr. Medvedev signaled that he was ready to resume air links, and Mr. Saakashvili proposed opening the checkpoint, closed three and a half years ago when Russia said it needed to make repairs.
They have urged him to open additional checkpoints to relieve the long wait at the Turkish posts where every visitor must obtain a stamped visa before crossing.
Mr. Brill said his company had so far spent about $15 million, or "less than half of the money we raised" to open its checkpoints.
With more border checkpoints opening up, crossing has become easier and people keep visiting each other's side of the line.
"I was in the first car, sending messages to the military to open the checkpoint gates.
For example, soldiers can open the "checkpoint mission," and all the phrases, images, gestures and other data useful for communicating with drivers at a checkpoint are listed.
They then went together to the neighbourhood market and re-opened the checkpoint, allowing people in the area to travel about freely again, he added.
Since the escape, nobody has been able to drive through town without stopping at checkpoints and opening their car trunks for troopers to peer inside.
