APA news agency,
29, May 2008

“GUAM member countries establish their activities on the basis of regional cooperation and development”, said Valeriy Chechelashvili, GUAM Secretary General at the GUAM development strategy conference in Baku, APA reports.

He said GUAM countries had same priorities of foreign policy and integration to the Euro-Atlantic region. “GUAM targets to achieve stability in Caspian and Black Sea regions and to unify reintegration capacities of member countries”. The Secretary General said GUAM increased its budget from 1.5 billion USD to 3 billions and trade turnover between the countries would reach 4 billions USD. He said one of the main targets is to reach 10 billion USD in trade turnover in next 10 years. Director of political department of Georgian Foreign Ministry David Dondua urged GUAM countries to restore their energy security. “GUAM countries can play a role of transit between Asia and Europe”. Ukrainian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Boris Krimchuk said GUAM achieved great political and economic successes during the Azerbaijan’s chairmanship in the organization. Moldovan Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ion Robu emphasized the necessity of youth festivals within the GUAM framework.

About the Conference/programme (http://www.mfa.gov.az/az/news/mfa_press_releases/2008/065.shtml)