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.