Russian ministry talks on preparations for second meeting of 3+3 platform

Preparations for the second meeting of the “3+3” platform on the South Caucasus are underway, while the doors for Georgia are open by agreement of the parties, Denis Gonchar, director of the Fourth Department of the CIS countries of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said in an interview with RIA Novosti, Report informs.

The first meeting of the 3+3 consultative regional platform, co-chaired by the deputy foreign ministers of the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkiye and the director-general of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, was held in December 2021 in Moscow. Earlier, the Georgian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Tbilisi refuses to participate in the regional consultative mechanism.

“Preparations are underway for the second meeting of the 3+3 Consultative Regional Platform. The venue and timing will be announced,” Gonchar said.

“I am sure that the designated agenda “3+3” is fully in line with the interests of Georgia, for which the “doors” - by common agreement of all participating countries - remain open,” the diplomat stressed.

Moscow considers it right to actively use “3+3” to develop cooperation among the countries of the South Caucasus and their neighbors, Gonchar said, adding that such cooperation involves collective consideration of issues, doesn’t exacerbate political contradictions, but, on the contrary, contribute to increasing mutual trust.

He added that the priority areas include implementation of mutually beneficial projects in the areas of trade, energy, industry, innovative technologies, infrastructure modernization.