Key regional leaders to gather in Istanbul for 3+3 platform meeting Date announced

The meeting of the 3+3 platform addressing South Caucasus issues is scheduled for October 18 in Istanbul. 

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that he anticipates the participation of foreign ministers from Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Iran at this gathering, Caliber.Az reports.

Fidan made this statement during a press conference in Ankara following discussions with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi.

He emphasized the ongoing efforts and consultations among the regional countries within the 3+3 framework, expressing hope that this third meeting will effectively advance diplomatic dialogue.

Russia has officially announced that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will attend the upcoming meeting of the 3+3 platform.

This confirmation was made by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who responded to inquiries regarding Lavrov's participation.

Zakharova stated, “We confirm the planned participation of Sergei Viktorovich Lavrov,” indicating Russia's commitment to engaging in discussions within this diplomatic framework.

The "3+3" platform, which comprises Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Iran, and Türkiye, was established to tackle regional issues and promote collaboration. The inaugural meeting occurred in December 2021 in Moscow, initially involving deputy foreign ministers. Since then, the platform has progressed to include higher-level discussions.

The latest meeting took place in October 2023 in Tehran, where the foreign ministers convened to address current regional concerns. It is noteworthy that Georgia officially withdrew from the platform on November 15, 2023.

The forthcoming meeting in Türkiye will maintain the tradition of rotating host countries for these essential discussions.

By Tamilla Hasanova