'Unresolved conflicts in GUAM area significantly cripple Europe's security'

The unresolved conflicts in the territory of GUAM member states significantly cripple Europe's security, Azerbaijani MP Elton Mammadov chairing the meeting of the GUAM Parliamentary Assembly said today.

Baku is hosting the fifth meeting of the GUAM Parliamentary Assembly.
The conflicts hamper the economic cooperation of GUAM member states. It is possible to restore stability in the region only within the internationally recognised territorial integrity of countries, he said.

Mammadov added that this meeting will contribute to the development of cooperation between GUAM member countries.

GUAM Secretary General Valery Chechelashvili said at the meeting that the organisation ensured close cooperation of Caspian and Black Sea countries through the implementation of various programmes.

"GUAM member states' support and GUAM participation in other parliamentary platforms are important," he said. "All resources and efforts of the secretariat are at the new chairing country's disposal."

The issues relating to previously conducted activities and prospects of further cooperation will be discussed at the meeting of GUAM PA.

The agenda also includes the integration of member states to Europe, cooperation within the EU programme Eastern Partnership, the role of parliaments in ensuring regional security, the energy potential of the regional countries and other issues.

GUAM was established by the post-Soviet countries in 1997 during the EU presidential summit in Strasbourg. In 1999, Uzbekistan joined the organisation, and left four years later. A decision was made to rename GUAM as an international organisation 'Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM', at the body's first summit in Kiev in 2006.


/Trend/