Ministerial meeting of 3+3 regional platform launches in Istanbul Fostering diplomatic ties

The ministerial meeting of the "3+3" regional platform has commenced in Istanbul, with Azerbaijan represented by Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.

Participating in the meeting are Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Prior to the meeting, it was reported that the foreign ministers would issue a joint statement outlining the outcomes of their discussions and hold bilateral talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In an interview with Turkish media on October 17, Minister Fidan reaffirmed the close relationship between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, describing them as "one nation, two states." He emphasized their collaborative approach on several critical issues, stating, "In certain matters, the two states operate in complete unison." Fidan highlighted their strong cooperation in areas such as the economy, foreign policy, and strategic concerns.

He also underscored the potential advantages of peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, stressing its significance for the region and noting that President Erdogan's position on the issue is well-known.

The 3+3 platform, which includes Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Iran, and Türkiye, was established to tackle regional challenges and promote collaboration. The initiative held its inaugural meeting in December 2021 in Moscow, initially involving deputy foreign ministers. Over time, the discussions have elevated to higher-level meetings.

The last meeting took place in October 2023 in Tehran, where foreign ministers addressed current regional issues. It is important to note that Georgia officially exited the platform on November 15, 2023.

The ongoing meeting in Türkiye continues the tradition of rotating hosts for these essential diplomatic discussions.

By Tamilla Hasanova