The Russian side views the format of the 3+3 platform as an effective mechanism for coordinating the efforts of regional groups to achieve lasting peace and stability in the South Caucasus and the Middle East, as well as an opportunity to promote mutually beneficial cooperation in the trade, economic, transport, logistics, cultural, and humanitarian domains. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), stated this at Wednesday’s press briefing.

Zakharova confirmed that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will attend the 3+3 format meeting this week, in which, in addition to Russia, as noted by the Russian MFA spox, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, and Turkey are included.

"On October 17-18, the Russian foreign minister will visit Istanbul to participate in the third meeting of the 3+3 regional consultative platform," said Zakharova.

According to her, Lavrov will have bilateral meetings as well on the sidelines of this meeting.

The 3+3 platform envisions broad cooperation between the six countries of the South Caucasus region: Russia, Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia. Georgia has been invited several times to participate in this format, but it has not yet joined its activities. The first meeting of this platform was held in Moscow in December 2021. And its last meeting—at the level of foreign ministers—was held in Tehran in October 2023.

As reported earlier, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan will be heading to Turkey, where he will participate in the third meeting of the 3+3 regional consultative platform to be held in Istanbul on Friday.