The first session of the new regional cooperation format “3+2”, which the Russian Foreign Ministry had earlier described as a “consultative” platform, took place in Moscow today, December 10, with participating countries represented at the level of deputy foreign ministers.
This morning, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, who represented Russia at the platform’s inaugural session, met with Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Vahe Gevorgyan.
According to a brief statement issued by the Russian side, Rudenko and Gevorgyan discussed pressing bilateral issues during the meeting in a constructive atmosphere, as well as the international and regional agenda. The session was first announced by Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, and later confirmed by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova.
“Tomorrow the first session of the consultative regional mechanism for the South Caucasus is to take place in the “3+3” format. Russia will be represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko. We will speak in more detail tomorrow about the results and the composition of each country’s representatives,” Zakharova had stated yesterday, adding that an invitation had also been sent to the Georgian side.
The “3+3” format was proposed by the presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkey after the 44-day Karabakh war. It envisages the participation of the three South Caucasian countries — Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan — as well as the three powers of the region — Russia, Turkey and Iran.
According to Russian experts, the “3+3” platform, about whose format, functions and real purposes little is known, is nevertheless beneficial to all countries of the region, including Armenia, since Yerevan gains a platform within whose framework it can negotiate directly and without intermediaries with the Turkish side towards normalising relations.
