The Turkish and Russian sides discussed issues of the 3+3 format, the situation in the South Caucasus region, and the normalization of Armenia's relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu stated this at a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Çavuşoğlu added that the Russian side provides all possible support to both processes.
Lavrov, in turn, noted that Russia and Turkey agreed on how to continue to work in the South Caucasus.
“You know that at the initiative of Turkey, the 3+3 format was created with the participation of three South Caucasian countries and their neighbors - Turkey, Russia, and Iran. We have already held the first meeting in Moscow. The Georgian colleagues could not participate. However, we emphasize that we will always be glad to see them,” he said. Lavrov also said that the next meeting in the 3+3 format is being prepared very soon.
Earlier, the effective opening of the 3+3 consultative regional platform, which comprises three Transcaucasian countries: Russia, Iran, and Turkey, was highlighted by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "We agree that this platform provides new prospects for initiating conversation and fostering diversified cooperation between the South Caucasus nations and their neighbors. Lavrov also said that they reiterated our desire for our Georgian friends to participate in this exciting format.
In January 2022, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi in a phone call that Turkey wished to host the next Caucasus cooperation platform conference. The two leaders addressed bilateral ties and regional concerns. According to a statement from the Turkish Presidency's Directorate of Communications, Erdoğan informed Raisi that work on the high-level cooperation council meeting, which will take place as soon as feasible in Tehran, as well as the agreements that can be signed, is still ongoing.
In the same month, Georgia's Ambassador to Turkey, George Janjgava, said that Georgia would not attend the next 3+3 Caucasus platform conference. Ankara has often called for a six-nation platform of Turkey, Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia to maintain lasting peace, stability, and cooperation in the Caucasus, presenting it as a win-win proposal for all regional countries.
