Russia says discussions during South Caucasus meeting in Tehran ‘in-depth, productive’

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia on Tuesday said the 3+3 format meeting on South Caucasus the previous day in Tehran was “in-depth and productive,” and there is a "serious potential" of promoting interaction between the participating countries.

“An in-depth and productive discussion took place regarding the prospects for the development of cooperation between the countries of the region,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Russia was represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the meeting also attended by the top diplomats of Türkiye, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Armenia.

Georgia did not participate in the dialogue due to the “Russian factor.” The two countries suspended diplomatic ties following a war in 2008.

The ministry statement said the session noted “serious potential” of promoting multifaceted interaction in the trade and economic, transport and logistics, and cultural and humanitarian spheres.

It said a joint communique was adopted by the participating countries, and Lavrov also held brief talks with his Turkish, Azerbaijani, Iranian, and Armenian counterparts.

Lavrov also met Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and discussed further building up of Russian-Iranian partnership in accordance with the agreements signed between Raisi and President Vladimir Putin.

“Particular attention was paid to the implementation of joint projects in the field of energy and logistics, including the full launch of the International North–South Transport Corridor," the press release said.

The Iranian side also expressed gratitude for Russia’s role in ensuring Iran's full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS.

Both sides, according to the statement, noted the need for further bilateral coordination on regional issues, including the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the situation in Afghanistan, Syria, as well as issues related to the Caspian Sea.

“The firm position of the two states on rejecting the West’s practice of applying illegal unilateral sanctions that undermine the normal functioning of the world economy was emphasized,” the statement​ said.​​​