State Department official comments on Zakharova’s accusations
“We encourage the countries of the South Caucasus to work together to resolve disputes and strengthen regional cooperation,” a US State Department official said in response to Factor.am’s question regarding Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova’s statement that the US seeks to hinder the “3 + 3” initiative.
“While external actors can play an effective role in supporting such efforts, they should not try to impose their agenda on the region,” the State Department official said.
Zakharova had said that Moscow sees the efforts Western countries, first of all, the United States, to hinder the “3 + 3” regional initiative, to hinder this new process.
“Russia is in favor of launching the” 3 + 3 “regional consultative mechanism as soon as possible, for the benefit of all its participants,” Zakharova had said. “We think that it will help increase the trust in the interstate relations, resolve the existing contradictions, reveal the economic, transport, humanitarian potential.”
The “3 + 3” initiative supposes cooperation with the participation of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, Iran and Turkey.