3+3 Platform Calls for Georgia’s ‘Equal Participation’
According to the Joint Communique of the second meeting of the “3+3” Platform held in Tehran on October 23, the participating countries’ foreign ministers “reaffirmed the openness of this Platform for equal participation of Georgia.” The meeting, themed “Time for peace, cooperation, and progress in the South Caucasus” generally centered around Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks and other developments in the region.
The format, which brings together three regional powers – Iran, Turkey and Russia – as well as two South Caucasus countries- Azerbaijan and Armenia, was established in 2021 and, despite its name, Georgia is not a member.
Following the ministerial, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed “belief” that “full-fledged “3+3” format can work in the near future,” including Georgia, because “the current authorities in Tbilisi, as they have proven more than once, proceed primarily in all their actions according to fundamental national interests.”
The call for Georgia’s participation in the format was reportedly reiterated by Iran as well. “We hope to see Georgia, a friendly country, participate effectively and constructively in future meetings,” Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) quoted Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, as saying in the opening remarks.
Ironically, the joint communique, adopted by the parties, including Russia, which continues to occupy 20% of Georgia’s territory, emphasized “the importance of peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity, inviolability of internationally recognized borders, non-interference in internal affairs, prohibition on the threat or use of force and respect for human rights based on all the principles of the United Nations Charter.”
Georgia has refused to be part of the format, whose first meeting of the 3+3 platform was held in Moscow in 2021. The Georgian delegation stayed away, saying it could not attend a meeting hosted by the Russian Federation – the country that does not recognize Georgia’s territorial integrity. Nevertheless, Georgian flags appeared at the format’s 1st meeting in Moscow, prompting official condemnation from Tbilisi, which called it “unacceptable”. In January, Russia’s foreign policy chief, Sergey Lavrov, said that Russian authorities had asked Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan to “explain” to Georgia the “benefits of joining the format”.
Also Read:
- 14/01/2022 – Lavrov Hopes Baku, Ankara, Yerevan Can Convince Tbilisi on Joining 3+3
- 11/12/2021 – Tbilisi Skips 3+3 Platform Meeting in Moscow
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
