Moscow: Baku -Tehran normalization will have positive impact on South Caucasus
ArmInfo. Moscow can only welcome the normalization of relations between Baku and Tehran. Spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova stated on May 23 during a weekly briefing, commenting on Azerbaijani-Iranian relations.
"We are confident that this will have a positive overall impact on the situation in the regions of the South Caucasus and the Caspian Sea. And, of course, we see great potential in the development of regional projects between the countries of the South Caucasus and their neighbors. And this logic, in particular, is embedded in our work to expand the International North-South Transport Corridor. We are committed to continuing close cooperation with Baku and Tehran, including within the framework of the dialogue in the Russia-Azerbaijan-Iran format, as well as through 3+3 the consultative regional platform, said the Russian diplomat, recalling that Russia, Iran, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia participate in this platform.
According to her, Moscow is convinced that regional players should themselves seek solutions to existing challenges and problems without outside interference. In this vein, Zakharova added that there is relevant positive experience and it is on this that we need to rely.
On October 23, 2023, the second meeting of the regional 3+3 platform was held in Tehran. It was held at the level of foreign ministers of 5 countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran and Turkey. Georgia again did not take part in the work of the platform. The parties agreed to hold the next meeting within this platform in the first half of 2024 in Turkey.
The first meeting took place on December 10, 2021 in Moscow, co-chaired by the Deputy Foreign Ministers of the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey and the Director General of the Iranian Foreign Ministry. The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that representatives of Georgia, who were also invited, refrained from participating in the meeting, but the doors are always open for them.