Fatma Jeren Yazgan, the Turkish Ambassador to Georgia, spoke exclusively to Europe Time on the "3 + 3" format.
„It is one of the platforms that bring countries in the region together to discuss some of the projects where all the regions can benefit. It is specifically important, and we think that it is a good idea, but there can be other formats that we can talk about with our partners. "-Fatma Jeren Yazgan said.
Regarding Georgia's refusal to join, the ambassador states that this is a Georgian decision that Turkey respects.
„It is Georgia's decision, which we respect, but we would not, of course, take or lead any decision in Georgia's absence about Georgia. We would like Georgia to be present, but it depends on whether or not the Georgian government and people would like to be there.
We inform the government of Georgia before and after the meeting and keep them informed of what is being discussed. We met with the foreign minister and informed them of what we talked about. There will be other meetings. Accordingly, we will see. There is nothing that is pressed about this platform. So, anyway, we work with the Georgian government bilaterally as well as in the format of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia“,....the Turkish Ambassador said.
As for the NATO-Russia Council:
„So dialogue and diplomacy are important. Of course, there is a NATO united stance about the free will of the countries choosing their security arrangements, and that cannot be discussed with 3rd parties. Turkey's position is reflected in the united NATO position. Turkey supports Georgia's membership as long as the Georgian government and people prefer it, and Georgia is committed to Euro Atlantic integration“, - Fatma Jeren Yazgan said.
Turkey and Iran have proposed a 3+3 format cooperation mechanism for the Caucasus with Azerbaijan, Russia, Armenia, and Georgia, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Jan. 29 after a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Javad Zarif.
“We are planning a cooperation on the South Caucasus in a 3+3 format with the proposal of Azerbaijani President İlham 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.
Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, on the sidelines of the recent Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Islamabad, said that Turkey hopes Georgia will also attend the upcoming meeting. Turkey believes that permanent peace is possible through mutual security-based cooperation between the states and people of the South Caucasus region. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov regretted that Georgia did not join the first meeting of the 3+3 format last December, saying Russia had asked Turkiye, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to explain to Georgia the benefits of joining. "Taking part in the format will not oblige them (Georgia) to anything," the diplomat said.
He also welcomed the first meeting between representatives of Turkiye and Armenia that took place on Jan. 14 in Moscow as the two countries pursue efforts for normalization, adding that Russia had helped organize the meeting.
Georgia will not attend the 3+3 Caucasus platform in Turkey, envoy says.
