GUAM OPEN FOR ENLARGEMENT, FM MAMMADYAROV
A meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the member-states of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development, GUAM, took place on Monday at Hyatt-Regency Nakhchivan hotel in Baku.
After the meeting, Ministers of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov of Azerbaijan and Gela Bezhauashvili of Georgia, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrey Veselovskiy and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova Valeriu Ostalep gave a press conference.
E. Mammadyarov said they had exchanged views on the issues to be discussed, and the documents, including Baku Declaration, to be signed during the tomorrow’s meeting of the heads of state. They have also agreed on the plan and budget for GUAM’s activities in 2007-2008, the years of Azerbaijan’s presidency of the organization.
Commenting on the first GUAM-Japan meeting, he mentioned this country’s interest in cooperation with the organization in the fields of energy, transport and ecology.
On forming a joint peacekeeping force, the Minister pointed out that the decision is possible only after the issue is seriously discussed at experts level.
Asked whether GUAM was oriented against the Commonwealth of independent States, Foreign Minister of Georgia Gela Bezhuashvili and Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andrey Veselovsky said that was not. “As is evident from its name, GUAM is an organization for democracy and economic development. It is not against any country or organization,” they stressed.
Responding to the question concerning GUAM’s enlargement, Minister Mammadyarov noted the organization had been founded on the basis of principles and objectives accepted by its four members. “These principles and objectives are clear. GUAM is open for any country, if it accepts these principles and objectives,” he said.
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