Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will attend the "3+3" platform meeting on the South Caucasus in Istanbul. The format includes Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia, as well as Russia, Turkey, and Iran. While Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed participation from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran, and Russia, Georgia has declined to attend.
The "3+3" format was proposed nearly four years ago by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. It aims to foster regional cooperation. Though Georgia has refrained from participating, Russian officials, including Lavrov, have emphasized that the door remains open for Tbilisi to join. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova highlighted the format’s potential to coordinate efforts for peace and stability in the South Caucasus and Middle East, as well as to promote cooperation in trade, transportation, and culture.
Western Interference Concerns
The last ministerial meeting took place in Tehran in October 2023, where geopolitical issues were widely discussed. Russia has voiced concerns about Western attempts to interfere in the region. Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov emphasized that the U.S. and other Western nations have sought to involve themselves in the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, despite much of the groundwork having been laid in Moscow. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) director, Alexander Bortnikov, warned that NATO’s presence in the South Caucasus would not contribute to regional stability, and Lavrov noted the security threat posed by NATO's ambitions in the region.
Azerbaijan and Armenia's Path to a Peace Deal
Discussions will likely touch on the ongoing peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated in September that around 80% of the peace treaty’s text has been agreed upon. Baku insists that all elements of the treaty are interconnected and cannot be signed piecemeal. Armenian officials, however, hope to finalize the agreement before the United Nations Climate Summit (COP-29) in Baku in November.
Georgian, South Ossetian, and Abkhazian Relations
The meeting comes at a critical time as rounds of international Geneva discussions on security and stability in the South Caucasus are also scheduled. Russia has expressed strong interest in normalizing relations between Georgia, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia. Lavrov previously indicated Russia’s readiness to facilitate peace among these parties if all sides are willing. Georgian authorities, including Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, have responded positively to Lavrov’s statements.
Georgia: Potential Western Interference in Elections
The "3+3" meeting is taking place shortly before Georgia’s parliamentary elections on October 26. Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has warned of potential Western interference in the electoral process. The SVR claims that the United States has collaborated with the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to influence the elections. Nevertheless, SVR Director Sergey Naryshkin expressed confidence that the Georgian people will make the "right choice" despite these external pressures.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has urged law enforcement to prevent opposition provocations leading up to the elections. Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has accused opposition parties of planning a constitutional coup following the vote.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on TASS materials