Joint Statement – GUUAM-United States

A new round of high-level GUUAM-U.S. consultations was held during the GUUAM Summit, July 3-4 in Yalta, Ukraine. Ambassador Steve Pifer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, led the U.S. delegation.

The Participants discussed the current state and prospects of the GUUAM-U.S. dialogue. They attached great importance to the cooperation GUUAM and the United States have developed over the past three years. They agreed to continue mutually beneficial cooperation, as well as specific projects, and also to explore new areas of interaction.

The GUUAM Member States expressed support for combating international terrorism, preventing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and related technologies, combating organized crime, and confronting other global challenges.  They affirmed their willingness to develop consolidated efforts with a view to increasing the efficiency of their cooperation in these areas.  The joint exploration of ways to confront these common challenges to the GUUAM states and the United States constitutes an important aspect of GUUAM-U.S. cooperation.

The United States appreciates the measures being taken by GUUAM to enhance rule of law, advance democratization and provide for stable economic development in the Group’s states and the region.  It was stressed that U.S. effective support ensures progress in these efforts.

The Participants noted the progress achieved in advancing the “GUUAM-U.S. Framework Program” and reaffirmed their commitment to further implementing this important document. The Participants commended the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding of GUUAM Member States on the Project on Trade and Transport Facilitation at the Summit, which will among other things enhance border security and customs control while facilitating regional trade.

The Participants agreed to continue their cooperation in implementation of the Project on Establishment of the GUUAM Virtual Center on combating terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking and other forms of dangerous crimes and Creation of Intergovernmental Information Management System (IIMS) according to the Agreement signed at the Summit.

The Participants look forward to the start of the practical implementation of the projects on Trade and Transport Facilitation and the Virtual Center with IIMS on September 1, 2003 in Kiev and Baku, respectively.

The Guuam Group: History And Principles

GUUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldova) Group was formally founded as a political, economic and strategic alliance designed to strengthen the independence and sovereignty of these former Soviet Union republics.

During the five years of cooperation GUUAM group became an important structure, which looking to enhance regional economic cooperation through development of an Europe-Caucasus-Asia transport corridor. It has also become a forum for discussion on various levels of existing security problems, promoting conflict resolution and the elimination of other risks and threats.

Cooperation among delegations of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine started in 1996 in Vienna, Austria, at the CFE Treaty Conference, where four states issued joint statements and proposed common initiatives.

On October 10, 1997, the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine met in Strasbourg during summit of the Council of Europe and stated their mutual interest in developing bilateral and regional cooperation, European and regional security, political and economic contacts.

In the Joint Communiqué issued, the Presidents stressed the importance of the four nations cooperation in establishing a Eurasian, Trans-Caucasus transportation corridor (TRACECA), and underscored the importance of strengthening the four-lateral cooperation “for the sake of a stable and secure Europe guided by the principles of respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, inviolability of state frontiers, mutual respect, cooperation, democracy, supremacy of law and respect for human rights.” The leaders of the countries agreed to undertake joint efforts in order to overcome the difficulties that Europe faces on the threshold of the 21st century.

On April 24, 1999, GUUAM was enlarged by one more member – Uzbekistan, who joined the group at GUUAM summit, which was held during NATO/EAPC Summit in Washington D.C., on April 23-25, 1999.

On September 6, 2000, at the meeting in New York in connection with the UN Millennium Summit, the Presidents of GUUAM countries pledged to intensify multilateral cooperation within the framework of GUUAM by giving it a multilevel character. To this aim, it was deemed expedient to convene regular summits at the level of Heads of State at least once a year, and meetings at the level of Ministers for Foreign Affairs at least twice a year. The Committee of National Coordinators (CNC) shall hold regular sessions on a quarterly basis.

To foster favorable conditions conducive to economic growth among the participating states, mutually beneficial trade relations, and implementing complex multilateral programs and projects in the fields of production, commerce, energy, transport, the economy, international credit and financial cooperation, border, customs and fiscal services, communications, science, technology education and culture, direct contacts between different state bodies and departments of the respective agencies of the GUUAM Group Member States will be established.

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