Russian FM says 3+3 regional platform becoming more promising

The 3+3 regional platform is already taking shape and becoming more promising, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov, TASS reports.

“The 3+3 initiative of [Azerbaijani President] Ilham Aliyev on the formation of the so-called 3+3 regional platform is already taking shape —three South Caucasian countries and three of their neighbors. This is also a promising format. I will be glad to hear your assessments on further steps in this direction,” Lavrov said, addressing Bayramov.

The initiative of the 6-party format of cooperation in the South Caucasus was launched by the presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkiye at the end of 2020; later, it was called “3+3”. Russia and Iran welcomed this idea, and Armenia also joined the format. Georgia has stated that it does not plan to participate.

On December 10, 2021, the first meeting of the consultative regional platform at the level of deputy foreign ministers of five countries was held in Moscow, Russia.