Russia says 3+3 format for South Caucasus outlined 3 key areas for further cooperation

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday that the 3+3 format for the South Caucasus outlined three key areas for further cooperation -- security, economy, and humanitarian ties.

During a press conference in Istanbul following a meeting of the 3+3 format involving Iran, Russia, Türkiye, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, Lavrov explained that the security agenda is focused on countering threats such as terrorism and drug trafficking. The economic track is centered on cooperation in the energy sector and addressing transport and logistics issues, while humanitarian efforts aim to promote cultural exchanges.

“We agreed to prepare meetings in all these areas and expect that discussions on these topics will take place within the next year. Daily contact mechanisms have been established, and specific individuals are responsible for advancing the agreements reached by ministers on various issues,” Lavrov said.

He also noted that Georgia did not participate in the meeting but expressed hope that Tbilisi would eventually join the collective work.

Lavrov highlighted that Russia maintains contact with Georgia through an interest section at the Swiss Embassy, which allows diplomats to discuss current issues in tourism, trade, and people-to-people relations with the Georgian authorities.

When asked about risks in the region, Lavrov pointed to Western attempts to expand their influence and undermine the South Caucasus' opportunities for equal, mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia.

“The main threat to the South Caucasus is the attempt by non-regional actors to dictate their terms, promote nation-centric models, and provoke discord between regional countries. These actors use their influence as leverage, as we saw in Georgia,” he said.

Lavrov also warned that the West is attempting to open a second front against Russia by destabilizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia to exacerbate tensions between Georgia and these regions.

Addressing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s “peace plan,” he reiterated Russia’s unchanged conditions -- Ukraine’s non-alignment with NATO, neutral status, protection of the rights of Russian-speaking citizens, and an end to the persecution of the Orthodox Church.

“We will also not accept any scenario in which Ukraine is used by the West to pose a threat to Russia. The realities on the ground will be considered as the West grapples with its stance, torn between supporting Zelensky and recognizing the deadlock of this path,” the top diplomat said.

Regarding rumors of a "secret part" of Zelenskyy’s plan, Lavrov remarked: “On one hand, he’s selling the lands and everything valuable within them, while on the other, he offers his country as a private military company."

Reacting to reports that Ukraine might pursue nuclear weapons, Lavrov dismissed such ideas as "madness," adding, “Nothing will come of it under any circumstances. He must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed when he said that."

The 3+3 format was initiated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Its first meeting was held in Moscow in December 2022 at the deputy foreign ministers' level, with the second taking place in October 2023 in Tehran.