FM: Türkiye and Azerbaijan stand united on many key issues

The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, and Armenia are set to meet in Istanbul on October 18, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

In an interview with Turkish media, Fidan highlighted that the meeting will focus on various regional matters, per Caliber.Az.

The minister noted that Georgia was also invited to attend but will be "unable to participate".

Fidan reiterated the close bond between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, describing them as "one nation, two states," and emphasized that they often act as one on several critical issues: "In certain matters, the two states operate in complete unison." He noted that their cooperation is particularly strong in areas such as the economy, foreign policy, and strategic concerns.

The minister also stressed the potential benefits of peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, underlining its importance for the region. He pointed out that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s stance on the matter is well-known.

The 3+3 platform, comprising Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Iran, and Türkiye, was formed to address regional challenges and foster collaboration. The initiative's first meeting took place in December 2021 in Moscow, involving deputy foreign ministers. Over time, these talks have progressed to higher-level discussions.

The most recent meeting occurred in October 2023 in Tehran, where foreign ministers discussed current regional issues. Notably, Georgia officially exited the platform on November 15, 2023.

The upcoming meeting in Türkiye continues the practice of rotating hosts for these critical diplomatic discussions.

By Tamilla Hasanova