Russia calls for swift reopening of South Caucasus borders

Russia supports the full transport and economic unblocking of the South Caucasus, a step it considers essential for the effective functioning of the regional “3+3” platform, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said.

Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Galuzin stressed the importance of ensuring participation by all countries in the region in developing its transit potential.

“In developing the transit potential of the South Caucasus, it is important, in our view, to ensure the participation of all countries in the region. Without opening the borders of Armenia with Azerbaijan and Türkiye, as well as Georgia with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, it is hardly possible to speak of full-fledged transport connectivity. And, in our opinion, the sooner this happens, the more opportunities in logistics will arise for all regional players. For its part, Russia supports the full transport and economic unblocking of the entire region,” he said during the session, “The ‘3+3’ Platform: Common Challenges and Strategic Partnership.”

Galuzin said that meaningful cooperation among regional actors must be based on inclusivity and equal access to joint initiatives.

“And it is precisely such an approach, as we very much hope, that could become the subject of analysis and development within the expert track of the ‘3+3’ format, so that ultimately we arrive at the integration of various ideas into a single whole. Without excluding anyone, without creating, you know, narrow clubs of interest,” he added.

He also expressed hope that experts would devote detailed attention to the issue of regional unblocking and help identify practical areas for cooperation.

“Of course, we would be grateful for expert suggestions on which specific areas of cooperation can be launched within the ‘3+3’ format in energy, telecommunications, the IT sector, as well as in culture and sports, and humanitarian contacts. All of this would provide a significant impetus to establishing inclusive cooperation on the above-mentioned, and possibly other issues,” Galuzin said.

By Tamilla Hasanova