GUUAM NEWS
Embassies of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Uzbekistan – Washington, D.C.- October 19, 2000
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GUUAM: Some 36 medals, including 6 gold, 12 silver and 18 bronze, were won by athletes of GUUAM countries during Sydney 2000 Olympics. Ukraine leads with 3 gold, 10 silver, and 10 bronze medals . Azerbaijan: *On October 17, President Aliyev attended the signing ceremony for the agreement establishing the Main Export Pipeline Company (MEPCO) to finance construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. Participants in MEPCO are SOCAR with 50%, ÂÐ – 25.41%, Unocal – 7.48%, Statoil – 6.37%, TPAO – 5.02%, Itochu – 2.92%, Ramco – 1.55%, Delta Hess – 1.25%. Additional agreements are being signed in Georgia and Turkey. *Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov visited Washington on October 11 - 13 to participate in another round of the annual Azerbaijan – U.S. Security Dialogue. Mr. Azimov’s discussions with his American counterparts focused on issues of regional security, non-proliferation, and joint anti-terrorist and anti-trafficking efforts. Special attention was paid to regional cooperation within the GUUAM and TRACECA frameworks and providing a secure environment for regional cooperation projects. Georgia: *NATO’s Secretary General, Lord George Robertson, paid an official visit to Georgia on September 25-26. "Georgia is a very important partner of NATO in this part of the world and the intensification of this partnership through the Partnership for Peace and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council adds stability and reassurance to all the countries of this region," Lord Robertson said after his meeting with President Shevardnadze. Lord Robertson also participated in the conference "Caucasus Today: Perspectives of Regional Cooperation and Partnership with NATO," organized by the Georgian Atlantic Council. In his speech Lord Robertson stressed that multilateral organizations, including GUUAM, play a vital role in facilitating peace processes in the region. *On October 26-29, The Georgian National Singing and Dancing Ensemble will perform in Washington’s Lisner Auditorium. More info: www.legendoftamar.com |
Moldova: Prime Minister Dumitru Braghis concluded his three-day working visit to the United States, where he met with senior Administration officials and legislators as well as with the management of the IMF and the World Bank. Mr. Braghis singled out as the main results of his visit the decision to create a Moldovan – American joint task group for economic cooperation and investments, an agreement with the U.S. Exim Bank and a US$10 mln Health Investment Fund Credit Agreement with the World Bank, as well as a U.S. pledge to assist in the post-privatization phase of agriculture reform and in new social programs. He also stated the importance of strengthening Moldova’s cooperation within the GUUAM framework. Ukraine: *Speaking in Tashkent during his official visit to Uzbekistan, President Leonid Kuchma expressed his negative view towards the newly established Eurasian Economic Community. Mr. Kuchma’s position was supported by his host, Uzbekistan’s President Islam Karimov *Defense Minister Olexander Kuzmuk hosted his Azerbaijani counterpart, Safar Abiyev, in Kyiv on October 10. The Ministers signed the Cooperation Program for 2001 and discussed regional cooperation, including creation of a joint peacekeeping unit. Uzbekistan: *On September 19, 2000, President Islam Karimov appointed the Armed Forces commanders and Ministry of Defense officials. As a signal of crucial changes in the military doctrine of Uzbekistan as well as an important stage in the Armed Forces reform, a civilian, Kadyr Gulamov, has been appointed Minister of Defense. Among Mr. Gulamov’s key objectives is to incorporate the army as a harmonious component of the civil society. *The Government of Uzbekistan and UNESCO held the Congress on Interreligious Dialogue in Tashkent on September 14-16. The participants adopted a declaration, which expressed their determination to continue efforts in furthering interreligious dialogue and cooperation and promoting a culture of peace. GUUAM NEWS is published monthly by Embassies of GUUAM countries - Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Moldova - in Washington, D.C. |