 | GUUAM summit reassuring |
Presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine convened for a summit in Yalta, Ukraine, on June 6-7 to focus on the status and prospects of cooperation within GUUAM.
Also in the focus were issues of infrastructure development in GUUAM member-states, transport communication, promotion of TRACECA, regional security concerns, etc. The parties condemned all forms of separatism, chauvinism, extremism, and terrorism, and voiced their adherence to peaceful solutions to conflicts in accordance with internationally accepted legal norms and principles, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference with internal affairs.
In conclusion, the presidents adopted the Yalta Charter and the Convention on mutual assistance in consulate issues. The latter lays foundation for joint action of GUUAM member-states toward protecting the rights and interests of their physical and legal entities in other member countries.
The Charter outlines key directions of multifaceted cooperation and its core purposes and principles.
The presidents also agreed to foster implementation of the prospective work plan devised by GUUAM foreign ministers in November 2000 and to open a GUUAM information office in Kiev.
The parties agreed to hold an inter-governmental economic forum of member-states in Uzbekistan in 2001, inviting interested international organizations.
Realization of the decisions made will give an impetus to further interaction among member countries of the organization.
The heads of state agreed to hold the next summit in Yalta in 2002.
In an interview with journalists upon arrival, he said presidents of the GUUAM member-states had officially asked the United Nations to register the organization as an international entity. He also said the Yalta Declaration was signed.
In his meeting with the Georgian counterpart Eduard Shevardnadze, the Azeri President spoke of the construction of the Azerbaijan-Turkey gas pipeline via Georgia. "There are no problems with this and we are about to arrive at a final agreement shortly", he said.
Asked about Russia's participation in the meeting in the capacity of observer, H. Aliyev said the parties had exchanged views in this regard, but the issue was not put on discussion. "Any country can join GUUAM, even Brazil has made such an initiative", he said.
The President said he was concerned with the killing of two policemen in Balakan and added that he had instructed the law-enforcement to be particularly vigilant and manage to prevent such crimes.
In regard to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline project, the President said it carried not only tremendous commercial interest, but also served to establish stability in the region. He mentioned that the project is valued at $2.4 billion and if expenses exceed the amount, they will be covered by Turkey.
Touching upon Azerbaijan's alleged debt of $52 million to Turkmenistan, H. Aliyev said there is a debt, but the figure being referred to is inaccurate and he had asked Prime Minister to attend to the issue.
Asked whether the issue of military cooperation was on agenda in Yalta, the President said the organization had not been established to build up anyone's military potential or offer resistance to any organization or country.
In conclusion, the President said he was very delighted to hear Turkish Prime Minister Bulend Ecevit saying that any cooperation between Turkey and Armenia could be possible only if Azeri lands were liberated and Armenia provided a corridor connecting Nakhchivan with the rest of Azerbaijan. H. Aliyev then voiced his confidence that Ankara would not change its position.
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Issue No.N24 (206), 2001
Baku-born Armenians outraged with Kocharian's electionParliament adopts statement over Seleznyov's remarksGUUAM summit reassuringNews digestNationEcologyBusinessOil & gas news
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