Government of Republic of Moldova

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova

GUAM

 

History and concept of GUAM

The creation of the GUAM Consultative Forum in 4 states (Georgia, Ukraine, Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Moldova) took place on October 10, 1997 in Strasbourg, during the Council of Europe Summit, where the Joint Statement of the Four Presidents was adopted. In this document, the Presidents noted the necessity to develop the quadrilateral cooperation format in order to strengthen stability and security in Europe, based on the following principles:

  • respect for sovereignty;
  • territorial integrity;
  • inviolability of state borders;
  • democracy;
  • the rule of law and respect for human rights.

The institutionalization of the Organization took place at the Summit held in Kiev, May 23, 2006 - Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM (ODDE - GUAM), obtaining status of an international organization.

Chairmanship-in-Office of the GUAM is held according to the principle of rotation, usually on annual basis - from Summit to Summit. In 2017, Georgia held the Chairmanship of GUAM, taken over in 2018 by the Republic of Moldova, which in 2019 will be followed by Ukraine.

Cooperation priorities
  • strengthening and expanding trade and economic relations (GUAM Free Trade Area);
  • intensification of sectoral cooperation;
  • energy security and diversification of energy sources;
  • promoting the development of the GUAM transport corridor;
  • development of transport and infrastructure;
  • solving the frozen conflicts in the GUAM area;
  • the fight against terrorism, organized crime, illicit drug trafficking and other serious crimes;
  • promotion of the GUAM joint tourism product;
  • intensifying cooperation in the GUAM + format (Partners), in particular with the UN, EU, OSCE, Visegrad Group, USA, Japan and other states and organizations.
GUAM Member States

Georgia

Republic of Azerbaijan

Ucraina

Republic of Moldova

Structure

The main structure of the Organization is the Council, which operates at four levels:

  • Heads of State (usually meets once a year);
  • Ministers of Foreign Affairs (at least twice a year);
  • National Coordinators (at least four times a year);
  • Permanent representatives (accredited by the GUAM Secretariat).

The GUAM Secretariat in Kiev is a Supporting Board for the Council that has been accredited by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on 21 May 2007. The Secretary General of the GUAM, Ambassador Valeri CECELASHVILI (Georgia), has begun its mandate since July 1 2007, with a four-year term. On 26 February 2009, in Kiev, was held the inauguration ceremony of the GUAM Secretariat by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Member States.

In addition to the Organization itself, were created the following affiliated bodies:

  • GUAM Parliamentary Assembly (September 2004) and its Committees in the fields of Law and Politics, Science, Culture and Education, Economy and Trade;
  • GUAM Women Cooperation Forum (September 2001);
  • The International Union of Associations of Citizens " Youth Forum of GUAM " (November 2006);
  • International Public Organization “International Foundation of Developing GUAM” (September 2007);
  • GUAM Business Council (July 2002);
  • GUAM Economic Forum (November 2004).

Within ODED - GUAM, there are 10 working groups with specific fields of activity:

  • Working Group on Economy and Trade;
  • Working Group on Transport;
  • Working Group on Energy;
  • Working Group on Informational Technologies;
  • Working Group on Combating Terrorism, Organized Crime and Illegal Drug Trafficking;
  1. working subgroup on combating trafficking in human beings and illegal migration;
  2. working subgroup on combating illicit drug trafficking;
  3. working subgroup on counter-terrorism;
  4. working subgroup on fighting the corruption and money laundering;
  5. working subgroup on legal statistics.
  • Working Group on Exceptional Situations;
  • Working Group on Science and Education;
  • Working Group on Culture and Tourism;
  • Working Group on Cyber Security;
  • Working Group on Youth and Sport.