Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov proposed holding the next 3+3 regional meeting in Azerbaijan and the following session in Armenia, while saying Moscow is ready to participate in the TRIPP transport project if invited.
Lavrov made the remarks to journalists in Baku on October 15 after attending the seventh summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.
Venue Has Not Been Agreed
Lavrov said participants were waiting for Azerbaijan and Armenia to agree on which country should host the next meeting of the format’s foreign ministers.
“I believe we could hold the meeting first in Azerbaijan and the next one in Yerevan. This would be the right step,” he said, according to APA.
The statement was a Russian proposal, not an agreed decision by the participants. The regional platform, initiated by Azerbaijan and Türkiye, is designed to bring together Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia with neighboring Iran, Russia and Türkiye. Three meetings have been held so far, in Moscow, Ankara and Tehran.
Russia Signals Interest in TRIPP
Lavrov also said Russia was prepared to participate in the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, or TRIPP, a transport project through Armenian territory. He said neither Azerbaijan nor Armenia had asked Moscow to join.
“We have not yet received any requests regarding participation in this project,” Lavrov said. “However, all interested parties are aware of our readiness and capabilities.”
Lavrov pointed to Russian Railways’ concession in Armenia and its operation of the South Caucasus Railway as evidence that Moscow is familiar with the infrastructure, Report.az reported.
The remarks do not mean Russia has joined TRIPP or that the venue of the next 3+3 meeting has been settled. Both steps depend on decisions by Azerbaijan and Armenia and, in the case of the regional platform, agreement among participants.
Source: Vesti Baku