GUUAM summit took place in Yalta

Washington, D.C. July 11, 2003 – On 3-4 July 2003, GUUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Moldova) summit took place in Yalta (Ukraine).

Summit participants, taking into consideration ongoing developments in international relations, confirmed the readiness to put consolidated efforts for strengthening peace, prosperity, stability and regional security. It was underlined that there is urgent necessity for the soonest resolution of ongoing conflicts, within the norms and principles of the international law and on the basis of respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the States. It was agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism, separatism, ethnic intolerance, extremism, and other challenges to the international security.

Summit participants noted that strengthening of GUUAM’s economic dimension is one of the most important tasks and signed Memorandum of Understanding on the Trade and Transportation Facilitation Project.

Summit also stressed the importance of fight against trafficking in drugs and humans, organized crime, money laundering and illegal arms trade as a necessary element in providing secure functioning of transport corridors. In this regard, Agreement on establishment of Virtual “Law-enforcement” Center and Interstate Information-Analytical System of GUUAM countries was signed.

Importance of further improvement of GUUAM institutional and legal basis was emphasized and necessity of development of GUUAM interparliamentary dimension was stressed.

Participants of the summit highly praised high level of cooperation with the United States of America in realization GUUAM programs and projects. GUUAM members and the United States signed bilateral Joint Statement.

It was agreed to hold next GUUAM summit in year of 2004.