Draft

YALTA GUUAM CHARTER

The Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of Uzbekistan and Ukraine, hereinafter referred to as “the GUUAM”,

Guided by the provisions of the United Nations Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, the Paris Charter for New Europe and the Charter for European Security of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe,

Reaffirming the provisions of the Strasbourg Declaration of 10 October 1997, the Washington Declaration of 24 April 1999 and the New York Memorandum of 6 September 2000 of the GUUAM Heads of State,

Being devoted to the principles of democracy, respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms, rule of law and market economy,

Acknowledging that regional cooperation is a part of globalization processes, and may contribute to consolidation of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the GUUAM Member States, promote peaceful settlement of conflicts and improve well-being of their peoples,

Proceeding from traditional friendly relations among the GUUAM Member States and their peoples,

Have agreed to adopt the present Charter,

Objectives of cooperation of the GUUAM:

promoting social and economic development;

strengthening and expanding trade and economic links;

development and effective use in the interest of GUUAM states of the transport and communication arteries with its corresponding infrastructure situated in their territories;
strengthening of the regional security in all spheres of activity;

developing relations in the field of science and culture and in the humanitarian sphere;

interacting in the framework of international organizations;

combating international terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking.

2. Principles of cooperation of the GUUAM:

Cooperation within the GUUAM is based on the universally recognized principles and norms of international law, in particular, on the respect for sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and non-interference in domestic affairs of the Member States.

3. Directions of cooperation of the GUUAM:

economy, science, technology and environment;

transport, energy and telecommunication infrastructure;

joint investment and financial projects;

humanitarian sphere, culture, education, mass media, tourism, youth exchange;

other directions of mutual interest.

4. The Member States may submit proposals regarding the broadening of the cooperation spheres.

5. The GUUAM is open for new members, which fully confirm their full adherence to the objectives and principles of the GUUAM, set forth in its fundamental documents including the present Charter.

6. Organizational structure of the GUUAM:

6.1 The Annual Meeting of the Heads of State is the GUUAM highest body.

The presidency in the GUUAM is carried out by the Member States in alphabetical order for the period between the Meetings of the Heads of State.

At the Meetings of the Heads of State the decisions are made up:

on the principal directions of political, economic and humanitarian cooperation within the GUUAM;

on the establishment of the GUUAM specialized bodies;

on the coordination of positions regarding urgent international life issues of mutual interest.

6.2 The Sessions of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, which are conducted, as a rule, twice a year constitute the GUUAM executive body.

The issues of implementation of agreements within the GUUAM are considered and the proposals on further development and deepening of the cooperation for consideration at the Meetings of Heads of State are also prepared at the sessions of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs.

6.3 The GUUAM working body is the Committee of National Coordinators (CNC), consisting of national coordinators, one from each Member State, appointed by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs.

The CNC coordinates the activities among Member States within the GUUAM, ensures preparation of the Meetings of the Heads of State and the Sessions of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs.

The CNC sessions are conducted quarterly in turn in the territory of the Member States. Upon the proposal of any Member States, the CNC extraordinary sessions may be conducted.

7. The decisions within the GUUAM are made by consensus.

8. The GUUAM working languages are Russian and English.

Done at the city of Yalta on the 7^th of June 2001, in a single true copy in the Azerbaijani, English, Georgian, Moldovian, Russian, Uzbek and Ukrainian languages, each of them being authentic.

For the Republic of Azerbaijan

(Signed) H. Aliyev

For Georgia

(Signed) E. Shevardnadze

For the Republic of Moldova

(Signed) V. Voronin

For the Republic of Uzbekistan

(Signed) I. Karimov

For Ukraine

(Signed) L. Kuchma