While the European Union and the U.S. meddle, the regional players are seeking a long-term solution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. The point was made clear by Russia and Iran at the Oct. 23 Ministerial Meeting of the 3+3 Consultative Regional Platform for the South Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Russia, and Türkiye), that was hosted by Tehran. The key to a solution is the integration of the South Caucasus into the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC). The meeting of five foreign ministers (Georgia chose not to attend) was aimed to resolve the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.
In a statement following the meeting, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi said “The problems of the region cannot be resolved by the intervention of foreign forces.” Earlier at the meeting Iranian foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said: “The presence of foreigners in the region not only does not solve the problems but complicates the situation.”
For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denounced “attempts by, first and foremost, the European Union and, to a certain extent, the United States, to interfere in the process of delimiting” the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
These statements refer to the EU countries and the U.S. selling weapons to Armenia.
