3+3 reaffirmed its commitment to building peace in the South Caucasus

Baku/23.10.23/Turan:  In a significant diplomatic gathering, the Foreign Ministers of five key nations convened for the second meeting of the 3+3 regional mechanism in Tehran, underscoring their commitment to principles enshrined in the UN Charter and emphasizing the importance of peaceful dispute resolution.

The joint statement, issued as part of the meeting's proceedings, highlighted the core principles guiding the discussions among the Foreign Ministers. Participating in this high-level diplomatic exchange were Hossein Amirabdollakhyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran; Ararat Mirzoyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia; Jihun Bayramov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan; Sergey Lavrov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; and Hakan Fidan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey. The gathering took place on November 1, 1402 AH, corresponding to October 23, 2023.

The statement reaffirmed the commitment of the Foreign Ministers to building friendly relations among nations based on mutual interests and good neighborliness. It emphasized the paramount importance of resolving disputes through peaceful means in accordance with the United Nations Charter. The principles of respecting sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs, the prohibition of threats or the use of force, and the respect for human rights were underscored.

The discussions at the meeting revolved around international issues, with a particular focus on regional challenges. The Foreign Ministers highlighted the significance of mechanisms like the 3+3 regional consultative meeting in addressing these challenges through constructive dialogue. They emphasized that such mechanisms play a pivotal role in facilitating mutually beneficial cooperation among regional nations and fostering trust and stability through economic collaboration.

The meeting also emphasized the importance of cultural cooperation, people-to-people interactions, and joint projects in fields such as education, science, tourism, culture, and sports. These collaborative endeavors were seen as critical components for achieving lasting peace, economic development, and regional stability.

The Foreign Ministers welcomed the ongoing processes of normalization and development of relations among all countries in the region. Additionally, they expressed openness to the equal participation of Georgia in this regional mechanism.

The Ministers extended their appreciation to the host country, the Islamic Republic of Iran, for the successful organization of the meeting and expressed their commitment to regularly convening such gatherings to further expand and strengthen trust and cooperation in the region. The next meeting is slated to take place in Turkey, with the specific date to be determined through diplomatic channels.

The theme of the meeting, "Time of Peace, Cooperation, and Progress in the South Caucasus," underscores the significance of current developments in the Caucasus region, including peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia. This regional format aims to harness the collective efforts of nations in the region to address intra-regional challenges and promote mutual cooperation.--0--