Payvand, Iran

Payvand’s Iran News …

09/28/08

Iran starts the second stage of Caucasus diplomacy

TEHRAN, Sep. 28 (ISNA)-Iran has started the second round of
negotiations over Caucasus crisis. Foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki
pursued Tehran’s initiative on Caucasus crisis in a meeting with his
Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov in New York.

Russian and Iranian FMs – Photo

Mottaki offered further details about Iran’s plan in two major spheres
of economy and security.

Lavrov for his part welcomed the plan, called "Caucasus diplomacy" or
the "3+3 plan", and emphasized it must be put into practice.

Caucasus conflict started on August 7as Georgia attacked South
Ossetia, a region in search of autonomy, to regain its control. The
war claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians and left a large number
displaced.

Moscow officially recognized the independence of South Ossetia and
Abkhazia on August 26.

Tehran believes Ossetia conflict happened as cross-regional powers
fanned the flames between Russia and Georgia by sending wrong
signals. Tehran is optimistic it would aid restoration of peace in the
war-torn region employing Caucasus regional commonalities and EU’s
potentials.

In line with resolving the conflict, Mottaki in the first stage of
presenting Tehran’s initiative traveled to Russia, Azerbaijan, Germany
and Georgia and held a meeting with Armenian counterpart in Tehran to
discuss the possible way out of the issue.

… Payvand News – 09/28/08 …