Istanbul to host key "3+3" meeting as foreign ministers gather for joint statement

Foreign ministers from five regional states are set to issue a joint statement following their ministerial meeting under the "3+3" regional platform, scheduled to take place on October 18 in Istanbul.

The statement will emphasise the importance of addressing regional issues through direct dialogue among participants and advocating for the peaceful resolution of political disagreements, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

This will be anchored in the principles of the UN Charter, which include respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, inviolability of borders, non-interference in internal affairs, and the protection of human rights.

In addition, the participants aim to enhance cooperation across various economic sectors and explore the possibility of establishing regional transport corridors.

During the meeting, Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will highlight Ankara's support for efforts to achieve a peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan. This initiative forms part of a broader process aimed at normalising relations between Türkiye and Armenia.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will also hold bilateral meetings with their counterparts from the participating countries, which include Azerbaijan's Jeyhun Bayramov, Russia's Sergey Lavrov, Iran's Abbas Araghchi, and Armenia's Ararat Mirzoyan.

Notably, the "3+3" platform, which includes Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Iran, and Türkiye, was established to address regional challenges and foster collaboration. The inaugural meeting was held in Moscow in December 2021, initially featuring deputy foreign ministers. Since then, the platform has evolved to facilitate discussions at a higher level.

The most recent meeting took place in Tehran in October 2023, where the foreign ministers gathered to deliberate on pressing regional issues. It is important to note that Georgia officially withdrew from the platform on November 15, 2023.

The next meeting is set to occur in Türkiye, continuing the tradition of rotating host countries for these crucial discussions.

By Aghakazim Guliyev