Presidents try to invigorateGUUAM amid ‘bad times’

The Presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Ukraine are making efforts to rejuvenate the GUUAM amid what many say are bad times for the organization following Uzbekistan’s suspension in the alliance and Moldova’s much skepticism about its future.

The three Presidents attempted to give a new impetus to the organization in the Yalta summit in the Ukraine last week, initiating signing of agreements on security and economic cooperation.

The GUUAM is a regional organization of the former Soviet republics stretching from the Black Sea to the Caspian and Central Asia and including Georgia, the Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldova.

The Presidents of all the member states, Azeri President Heydar Aliyev, Georgian Eduard Shevardnadze, Ukrainian Leonid Kuchma, and Moldovian Vladimir Voronin were taking part in the summit, but Uzbekistan, which was represented by a special envoy.

Among the key documents inked are a declaration on joint efforts for provision of stability and security in the region and an agreement on a free trade zone.

Georgia took over the one-year GUUAM chairmanship from Azerbaijan.

Optimism

Against a backdrop of a gloomy future for the GUUAM, President Aliyev seems optimistic, saying ‘the organization will create good conditions for interaction of member states’. He hinted at possible ‘assimilation’ of the GUUAM into another organization, which some observers say is the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization.

The Azeri leader was accompanied by Foreign Minister Vilayat Guliyev. Observers were also in attendance.

President Aliyev has told a news conference on his arrival in Baku that there was no discord while making decisions, assessing the summit as successful.

Briefing

On arrival home, President Aliyev held a briefing at the Bina Airport of Baku, answering a wide spectrum of qeustions.

Speaking on his meeting with US Secretary of State spokesman William Taylor, the Azeri President said they had discussed nothing particularly important.

On the date for the forthcoming meeting with Armenian President Kocharyan, President Aliyev said it is still to be ascertained.