History and principles
GUUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldova) Group was formally founded as a political, economic and strategic alliance designed to strengthen the independence and sovereignty of these former Soviet Union republics.
During five years of cooperation the GUUAM Group has become an important structure, which is looking forward to enhance regional economic cooperation through development of a Europe-Caucasus-Asia transport corridor. It has also become a forum for discussion on various levels of existing security problems, promoting conflict resolution and elimination of other risks and threats.
Cooperation among delegations of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine started in 1996 in Vienna, Austria, at the Conference of the States-Parties to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, where four states issued joint statements and proposed common initiatives.
On October 10, 1997, the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine met in Strasbourg during summit of the Council of Europe and stated their mutual interest in developing bilateral and regional cooperation, European and regional security, political and economic contacts.
In the Joint Communiqué, the Presidents stressed the importance of the four nations cooperation in establishing a Eurasian and Trans-Caucasian transportation corridor (TRACECA), and underscored the importance of strengthening the quadrilateral cooperation “for the sake of stable and secure Europe guided by the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, inviolability of state frontiers, mutual respect, cooperation, democracy, supremacy of law and respect for human rights.” The leaders of the countries agreed to undertake joint efforts in order to overcome the difficulties that Europe faces on the threshold of the 21st century.
On April 24, 1999, GUUAM was enlarged by one more member – Uzbekistan, who joined the Group at the GUUAM summit, which was held during NATO/EAPC Summit in Washington D.C., on April 23-25, 1999.
On September 6, 2000, at the meeting in New York in connection with the UN Millennium Summit, the Presidents of GUUAM countries pledged to intensify multilateral cooperation within the framework of GUUAM by giving it a multilevel character. To this aim, it was deemed expedient to convene regular summits at the level of heads of state at least once a year, and meetings at the level of ministers for foreign affairs at least twice a year. The Committee of National Coordinators (CNC) shall hold regular sessions on a quarterly basis.
To foster favourable conditions conducive to economic growth among the participating states, mutually beneficial trade relations, and implementation of complex multilateral programs and projects in the fields of production, commerce, energy, transport, economy, international credit and financial cooperation, border, customs and fiscal services, communications, science, technology education and culture, direct contacts between different state bodies and departments of the respective agencies of the GUUAM Group Member States will be established.
There are joint decisions of the GUUAM States to promote development and improvement, at different levels, of mechanisms of multilateral cooperation in the framework of GUUAM, including at the level of executive and legislative branches, business circles, non-governmental and humanitarian organizations and mass media.
The GUUAM countries also agreed to strengthen and improve the mechanisms of consultations and coordination of actions within the framework of international organizations, and to promote actively the practice of joint statements at various levels.
Political cooperation
In November 1997, as a result of consultations of the deputy foreign ministers a joint protocol was signed in Baku, Azerbaijan. In particular, understanding was reached among the four states to continue close cooperation in the following fields: political interaction and cooperation; interaction in the field of peaceful settlement of conflicts and cooperation in combating separatism; cooperation in the field of peacekeeping activities; cooperation in the field of development of a Eurasian Trans-Caucasian transport corridor on the basis of the results of the International Conference on the Restoration of the Historic Silk Road held in Baku in September, 1998; and interaction within the framework of processes of integration to Euro-Atlantic and European structures of security and cooperation.
The last two priority areas envisage mutual assistance in implementation of concrete projects in the field of production and transportation of oil and gas, and the establishment of a special partnership and dialogue with NATO on issues of mutual interest. The essential part of cooperation will be the security of the Eurasian corridor where the GUAM Group and Central Asian Group have great possibilities for interaction.
Member-States also pledged to work for peaceful settlement of regional conflicts on the basis of principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of the borders of all states.
These countries also pledged to adhere to combating aggressive nationalism, separatism and international terrorism, while continuing their interaction in peacekeeping and other missions with the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as well as NATO (through Partnership for Peace programme), the Council of Europe, the Joint Consultative Group of States-Parties to the CFE Treaty, and West European Union.
At the meeting in Cishinau, Moldova, on October 23, 2000, the Committee of National Coordinators (CNC) has approved the GUUAM Action Plan for 2000-2001.
Joint efforts in energy field
In October, 1998, the chief delegates of the GUAM countries, who participated in the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Annual Meeting in Washington D.C., met at the Embassy of Ukraine to the USA and issued a joint statement announcing the four countries’ determination to work together in four areas: (1) to minimize the effect of the Russian financial crisis on their countries; (2) to support each other against “growing challenges to regional security and stability;” (3) to cooperate with each other and international partners in the Europe-Caucasus-Asia transit corridor project; and (4) to jointly lobby for accelerated development of Caspian oil deposits and the construction of multiple pipelines directly to international markets.
The four states confirmed their commitment to the continuation of economic reforms aimed at developing democratic societies, free markets and the active integration of their countries into the global economy. The participants also noted the importance of quadrilateral cooperation in creating the Eurasian transportation corridor, not only as a means of extending economic cooperation, but also as an important factor of strengthening economic and political sovereignty of the states involved.
Special importance was attached to settling all issues related to the development of oil and gas resources of the Caspian Sea region and creation of a multiple pipeline transportation system to world markets. Participants at the meeting also stressed that continuing conflicts present a serious obstacle to regional cooperation, and voiced concern over the increasing occurrence of acts of terror and violence which are aimed not only against individuals, but also threaten the entire world community – and therefore should be treated as crimes against humanity. Heads of the four delegations confirmed their willingness to work together with all states and international organizations to address these matters.
Security cooperation
In
January 1999, Ministers of Defence of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine
met in Baku to exchange views on security issues. The ministers
discussed current questions of international and regional security, and
confirmed their attachment to the principles of sovereignty, territorial
integrity and inviolability of borders. They underlined the importance
of working within the framework of international structures such as the
United Nations, the OSCE and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, as
well as further coordination of efforts in adapting the Treaty on
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. The Ministers also expressed the
view that it is important to develop cooperation through joint
exercises, consultations, conferences of a scientific and practical
nature, the training of cadres, and the establishment of friendly ties
among military academies, formations and units.
As a follow up to the GUUAM Heads of States Washington Statement signed on April 24, 1999, during NATO's 50 Anniversary Summit, the Ministers of Defence of the GUUAM countries conducted a working meeting in the town of Tysovec, Ukraine, on August 6-7, 1999 and issued a joint protocol. They stressed common positions of the member-states on a number of vital issues, such as support for fundamental norms and principles of international law, including respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and internationally recognized borders of states. These issues also include countering threats to peace and stability, finding peaceful resolution to regional conflicts, arms control, integration into Euro-Atlantic structures and security of the TRACECA transportation corridor. During the meeting, the participants outlined specific steps to further cooperation among the GUUAM Member–States. They agreed to continue consultation on establishing a joint peacekeeping unit, to exchange information on military and regional security issues, and adopted a calendar of upcoming events within the GUUAM Ministries of Defence cooperation framework.
Fighting drug trafficking
On October 4, 2000, the Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the United Nations, on behalf of the GUUAM countries, spoke at the 55th Session of the UN General Assembly on the problem of illegal drug trafficking. He said that the GUUAM States have elaborated the national strategies for drug control, particularly on the reduction of drug supply and its consumption. National legislation to provide more severe punishment for drug-related crimes was approved. An appeal to the international community for assistance in halting drug trafficking was made. It was stated that, “the fight against illicit drug trafficking requires a complex and multifaceted approach. It is necessary to combat both the supply and demand of drugs as well as organized crime, money laundering, corruption and terrorism, which are closely linked to drug trafficking. That problem requires urgent steps and targeted investments to carry out the complex measures on demand reduction. Therefore, the implementation of the above-mentioned program in the GUUAM States will make a significant contribution on the part of the international community to support our efforts.”