Envoy: Iran backs regional mechanism to ensure regional peace, stability

National Desk

Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan said Tehran supports the initiative to establish a regional mechanism to ensure peace, stability and development on the region.

Seyyed Abbas Mousavi made the remark in a tweet on Friday, saying the three South Caucasian states of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia in addition to the three large neighboring countries of Iran, Turkey and Russia can enhance their cooperation in favor of the entire region.

His tweet read: “Iran supports initiative to establish a 3+3 format regional mechanism to bolster peace, stability & development in our region. Three S. Caucasian states (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia) + three regional neighbors (Iran, Turkey, Russia) can cooperate for the good of the region.”

In late January, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Ankara and Tehran proposed a 3+3 format cooperation mechanism for the Caucasus with Azerbaijan, Russia, Armenia and Georgia.

He made the remark after a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, according to hurriyetdailynews.com.

“We are planning a cooperation on the South Caucasus in a 3+3 format with the proposal of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, with the support of [Russian President Vladimir] Mr. Putin, our president and other leaders,” Çavuşoğlu said, speaking at a joint press conference with the Iranian minister.

“Peace and stability in the South Caucasus are for the benefit of everyone, and normalization in this region will again especially benefit the countries of the region. But Armenia and the people of Armenia will benefit the most.”

“Therefore, we expect Armenia to take constructive steps in this direction,” he added.

The initiative was proposed following a cease-fire agreement in November that halted weeks of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

In an address to the same press conference, Zarif said during his visits to Azerbaijan, Russia, Armenia and Georgia, he had emphasized that the past should be seen as a way to the future.

“We should positively use this. The cease-fire that currently exists [in Upper Karabakh] should become more permanent. It should ensure the revival of trade and economic relations,” the minister added.

Source: Iran Daily