The United States ambassadors from the GUUAM countries (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldova) declared today that the purpose of the GUUAM organization is to maintain the sovereignty and independence of the five former Soviet republics

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GUUAM EMBASSIES CONDEMN TERRORISM

Washington, D.C. September 12, 2001 - - Embassies of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Uzbekistan in Washington, DC strongly condemned yesterday’s horrific terrorist attacks conducted on the American soil and express deep sorrow over the loss of innocent human lives.

The GUUAM member-states support international cooperation in fighting the terrorist threat worldwide. In their Washington Declaration signed in April of 1999, the Presidents of the GUUAM countries stated their deep concern with “the increased number of acts of terrorism and violence, which represent a serious threat not only to individual persons and states but to the whole world community.” The Presidents especially stressed the necessity to jointly combat terrorism in all its manifestations.

In the wake of these terrible events, our thoughts and prayers are with our American friends, whose pain and grief we share.

Embassy contacts: Azerbaijan – Elin Suleymanov (202) 337-3500; Georgia - Mariam Zhgenti (202) 387-2390; Moldova – Vsevolod Grigore - (202) 667-1130; Ukraine – Olesia Bozhko (202) 333-0606; Uzbekistan – Ravshan Nazarkulov (202) 8875300.