Istanbul, October 17, 2024 – The Europe Today: The third meeting of the South Caucasus Regional Cooperation Platform is set to take place in Istanbul on Friday, focusing on promoting stability, economic prosperity, and regional connectivity through collaborative projects. The high-profile event will be hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and will gather senior diplomats from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran, and Russia.
Attendees will include Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Ceyhun Bayramov, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Iranian diplomat Abbas Araghchi, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The meeting, which aims to bolster regional cooperation and peace, is seen as a significant step toward enhancing trust and economic integration in the South Caucasus.
Minister Fidan is expected to reaffirm Türkiye’s commitment to peace and stability in the region and emphasize the importance of regional ownership in conflict resolution. He will also underscore Türkiye’s support for ongoing peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as highlight the normalization process between Türkiye and Armenia.
The South Caucasus Regional Cooperation Platform, established after the 2020 Second Karabakh War under the initiative of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, seeks to enhance regional dialogue and cooperation. The platform brings together Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Russia, and Türkiye, focusing on connectivity and economic collaboration, particularly in transportation and regional integration.
In addition to the main discussions, bilateral meetings between the foreign ministers are planned, along with a formal reception hosted by President Erdoğan. The event is expected to conclude with the adoption of a Joint Declaration, emphasizing the resolution of disputes through dialogue, respect for sovereignty, and the strengthening of regional economic ties.
The Istanbul meeting follows previous gatherings in Moscow in December 2021 and in Tehran in October 2023, further building on the momentum of cooperation in the South Caucasus region.
