Batumi declaration signed at the GUAM summit - UPDATED

02.07.08

11:55

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev thanked President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili for arranging the summit and for hospitality displayed towards its participants and stressed the importance of the current meeting for the further development of the organization, reports Novosti-Azerbaijan with reference to the press secretariat for the Azerbaijani President.

Ilham Aliyev highly appreciated support, provided by the GUAM states to Azerbaijan during the adoption of the UN resolution on the situation in the occupied territories of the country. The head of state touched upon the issues of regional security and drew attention to problems, caused by Nagorno Karabakh conflicy.

He said over 1,000,000 people were driven out of their lands, their human rights were rudely violated and 20% of Azerbaijani lands are under occupation.

He especially noted that the conflict settlement is possible only on the basis of norms of international law in the framework of territorial integrity of the countries.

The President stated that Azerbaijan and Georgia maintain strategic cooperation and this cooperation also continues in the energy sector. He noted that Azerbaijani gas was lighted in the flats of Batumi residents in the morning.

"This is a demonstration of our cooperation on a high level. Our ties are developing in various fields", said President Ilham Aliyev. Speaking about joint participation of Azerbaijan and Georgia in energy projects, the head of state announced that there are initiatives of new cooperation in the basins of the Caspian, Black and Baltic Seas.

President of Azerbaijan concluded his speech with saying: "Our policy is aimed at the security of the region".

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11:40

"The Molotov-Robbentrop pact, new assessment of Europe and review of borders are not in power anymore", said Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili at a joint briefing with GUAM Presidents.

According to Saakashvili, the most important thing which unites the GUAM member-states is a willingness to integrate into a civilized space. He said Georgia is in a difficult state today, as there is an attempt to divide it.

According to the Georgian leader, Georgia and GUAM member-states may attain preservation of unity and transquility in the region.

Saakashvili spoke of close cooperation between the GUAM member-states. In particular, he noted that relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan are an example of friendship between states.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev also spoke of the issues of cooperation in the GUAM framework.

He said the Caspian, Baltic and Black Sea regions are a model of creation of new corridors, strengthening ties and close cooperation with different regions.

According to Aliyev, political independence is impossible without energy security and GUAM is working actively in the sense of these energy relations.

"GUAM is an important international organization, whose members support each others in political processes", said Ilham Aliyev. He said the issue of regional security should be taken into account as is it among one of the most important factors of countries' economic development.

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10:50

The Batumi declaration "GUAM integrating the Europe's East" was signed in Batumi by results of the third session of the council of the GUAM Presidents. According to the press service for the Ukrainian President, the document was signed by Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Lithuania Valdas Adamdus and President of Poland Lech Kachinski.

The declaration fixes loyalty of the member-states to democratic values, respect to human rights and liberties, supremacy of law, preservation of spiritual and cultural heritage of peoples and strengthening the tolerance spirit.

The sides accentuate on the loyalty to the course for development of regional cooperation as a component of all-European and Asian integration processes, strengthening of international partner relations of the organization with the United States, Poland, Japan and other states, as well as international associations.

The document also fixes importance of implementation of Sphere cooperation development strategy for deepening of interaction in the economic, humanitarian and law enforcement spheres.

The declaration fixes concern with the threats, caused by protracted conflicts, aggressive separatism, extremism and international terror and confirms GUAM reasiness to cooperate in resisting these threats.

The statement of the Council of GUAM Presidents on using the transport potential and developing GUAM transport corridor was signed as well.

The document is intented to assist in the complete use of the transport potential of the member-states, whose territories are a natural corridor between Europe and Asia. The main elements of the statement, basing on the GUAM Sphere Cooperation Development Strategy confirm the need to accelerate creation of the free trade area, development of the concept of organization's transport policy, as well as support to definite projects for improvement of GUAM transport corridor. The document fixes the start of the implementation of the central route of the New Eurasian Logistics and Transport Initiative. The route has been formed in the framework of the International Car Transport Union, it envisions development of the Transcaspian and Black Sea components of GUAM corridor.

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01.07.08

22:20

President of Poland Lech Kachinski voiced confidence that GUAM is a growing and perspective regional organization by results of the GUAM-POland meeting held in Batumi on July 1, according to Kavkaz-press.

"Regard me as the member of this association, as a private person", said Kachinski though refusing to elaborate on prospects of Poland's accession to GUAM.

"Azerbaijan is implementing successful energy projects in the GUAM frames. Prospects of energy projects development both in the GUAM framework and in the more expanded specter are impressive", noted he.

Speaking about prospects of Ukraine and Georgia's getting the NATO membership actions plan, he said this will occur in the nearest future. "This is undoubted and though Poland has no decisive vote, we will support the decision to present the MAP to Georgia and Ukraine with great pleasure", said he.

The Polish President again confirmed the loyalty of his state to the principle of territorial integrity of Georgia and condemned Moscow's policy towards the separatist regimes in Georgia.

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22:13


President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko, speaking at the summit in Batumi, considers that GUAM should take an active part in the peaceful resolution of frozen conflicts on the territories of its member-state. He said it during the open part of the plenary session of the GUAM presidents.

"Grozen conflicts in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova (that are Abkhaz, South Ossetian, Karabakh and Transdniestrian conflicts) are factors of destabilization, therefore, it is necessary to intensify their peaceful resolution on the basis of territorial integrity of these states", said he,

The Ukrainian President noted that "the negotiation process on the resolution of the Abkhaz, South Ossetian and Karabakh conflicts is not too effective".

"Therefore, it is necessary to find a format of talks, which would allow to further advance for the resolution of these conflicts", said Yushchenko. At the same time, he said "definite success has been attained in the process of Transdniestrian conflict settlement".
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21:06

In his speech during the session of the GUAM Presidents in Batumi, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko stressed progress in the energy projects, said the press service for the Ukrainian government.

In particular, he drew attention to the implementation of the Eurasian oil transportation corridor "where the work is on the applied level, on the level of economy conduction subjects". The President also noted that the response to the need to fill Odessa-Brody pipeline with 0.5 mln tons of technical oil was found several days ago. "We will start proving this part of the route", said Yushchenko.

In his speech, he stressed prospects of cooperation in the development of transport and transit potential of the GUAM states as well as cooperation in the sphere of tourism, which is among the most perspective, especially, considering conduction of the European football championship Euro-2012 in Ukraine and Poland. The President also voiced hope that GUAM and Poland will closely cooperate for adoption of the UN resolution about recognition of Holodomor as the genocide of the Ukrainian people.

On the whole, assessing the activity of the organization through the last year, Yushchenko noted that "formation of sphere projects has become more contoured and we have more exact purposes for the next 12 months"

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20:22

Presidents of Ukraine and Georgia Viktor Yushchenko and Mikhail Saakashvili attended the opening of St.Andrei the Apostle in Adjaria.

The monument "Georgia's path is a path of enlightement" was erected in Sarpi settlement near Georgian-Turkish border and is devoted to St. Andrei the Apostle, who was the first peacher of Christianity in Georgia in the 1st centurt B.C.

President of Georgia called the memorandum "the symbol of Orthodox unity of Georgia, Ukraine and Georgia".

"This is the symbol of not only Georgia but also the unity of Georgia, Ukraine and Russia. Andrei the Apostle was enlightener of all these countries and also became the symbol of our revival.

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19:51

GUAm and International Transport Union today prepared a memorandum. The document envisioned regulation of car transport and cargo transportation. The memorandum was signed be GUAM secretary general Valery Chechelashvili and head of the International Transport Union.

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18:59


Third summit of GUAM member-states started in Batumi.

According to APA, the summit is held under the slogan "GUAM unites the European East.

The event is attended by delegations of 20 countries, alongside with Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine.

Among the participants are presidets of Poland Lech Kachinski and Lithuania Valdas Adamkus, Czech Foreign Minister Carel Schwarchenberg, assistant US Secretary of State David Merkel and others. It should be noted that Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin did not attend the event. Moldova is represented by Interior Minister Valentin Mezhinski and deputy Foreign Minister Valeri Ostalep.

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18:45

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili promised that living conditions of Batumi residents will improve significantly in the nearest future and the city will be fully gasified. He said this following the symbolic ceremony of gas lighting on Tuesday.

Georgian President and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev were first to light gas in one of the flats at Haydar Abashidze street. Works on gasification have recently been completed by Azerbaijan's State Oil Company. 120 flats will be supplied with natural gas in Batumi at the initial stage.

"We all are proud of this city but living conditions in Batumi are too law so far. Owing to natural gas, heating will become cheaper for the population and I am sure we will soon have a different city", said Saakashvili.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said he is proud of Azerbaijan's role in provision of energy resources to Georgia.

"The fact that gas is supplied here from Azerbaijan is pleasant for me. This is an indicator of our relations and our cooperation. We have managed to implement such a large scale project within a short period of time", said Aliyev.

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17:45

The Bobokvati governmental residence of Batumi hosted a bilateral meeting of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili with Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yushchenko. According to the press service for the Ukrainian President, the main topic discussed during the meeting were aspects of GUAM development.

Particularly, the sides considered issue of energy cooperation in the framework of this organization and cooperation in the humanitarian sphere. Yushchenko and Saakashvili also discussed future visit of the Ukrainian President to Georgia, scheduled for this year.

A trilateral meeting with participation of presidents of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine also took place in the framework of the third GUAM summit to be held in Batumi today. The meeting participants considered problems and prospects of GUAM.

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17:00

A trilateral meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Georgia Ilham Aliyev, Viktor Yushchenko and Mikhail Saakashvili was held in Batumi in the framework of the third GUAM summit (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) to start in the same city.

According to Novosti-Azerbaijan, the press service for the Azerbaijani embassy to Georgian noted that the meeting participants discussed GUAM problems and perspectives.

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16:45

The GUAM-US meeting was held in the framework of the third GUAM summit in Batumi on July 1, which resulted in adoption of a joint statement, said sources in the department of press and information of the Georgian Foreign Ministry.

The meeting was attended by Georgian deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze, his Azerbaijani counterpart, GUAM national coordinator Araz Azimov, deputy Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, GUAM national coordinator Valieru Ostalep, Ukrainian deputy Foreign Minister and GUAM national coordinator Alexander Khorin, assistant US Secretary of State David Markel and GUAM secretary general Valery Chechelashvili.

The sides considered issues of political cooperation, prospects of further relations, new projects in the sphere of trade, transport, border security, taxes, war on terror and organized crime.

The next meeting in the GUAM-US format will be held during the 63rd UN general assembly in New York.

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16:20

Day.Az reports with reference to AzerTac that Azerbaijani gas was turned on in a Georgian flat in Batumi with participation of Azerbaijani and Georgian Presidents.

The building residents welcomed the heads of the two states. The Presidents lighted Azerbaijani gas on in Batumi city in flat No 21 at 2, Haydar Abashidze street.

Then, the heads of state talked with the flat residents at a tea-table.

The Presidents of the two countries especially stressed the role of friendly relations in the development of these ties.

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16:15

GUAM is a European organization and Europe's interest in it is growing", said GUAM secretary general in Batumi today.

He said the interest in this organization is proven by the fact that the GUAM summit is attended by Presidents of the two countries, which are not member-states of the organization. These are Poland and Lithuania.

According to Chechelashvili, during chairmanship in GUAM Georgia will form such priority trends as intensification of political relations, participation of the world community in the resolution of conflicts and transport and energy projects.

"Georgia's chairmanship in this organization is encouraging. We are confident that we will be able to attain progress in cooperation with the European Union", announced Chechelashvili.

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15:20

The third GUAM summit is being held in the Georgian Batumi city.

GUAM Secretary General Valeri Chechelashvili considers organization's closing to Europe to be one of the main directions of the organization, said Valery Chechelashvili before the third GUAM summit to start in Batumi (Ajaria, Georgia).

"We consider GUAM to be a European organization and one of the main principles of our cooperation is getting closer to Europe and formation of civilized cooperation principles in the GUAM dimension", said Chechelashvili.

According to him, these principles should be based on European standards and practice.

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12:36

The third GUAM summit (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) will be held under the slogan "GUAM unites Europe's East" in Georgian Batumi on July 1.

Novosti-Azerbaijan reports with reference to the secretariat of the organization in Kiev that the summit participants will discuss the activity for strengthening development of energy and transport projects in the region, GUAM relations with UN, OSCE, CE, European Union and NATO and a number of other issues.

In the first half of the day President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev will leave for Batumi with his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yushchenko.

Presidents of Poland Lekh Kachinski, Lithuania Valdas Adamkus, Romania Troyan Basesku and GUAM secretary general Valeri Chechelashvili have already arrived in Georgia.

The summit is expected to be attendde by official representatives of Turkey, Bulgaria, US, Japan, Latvia and Estonia.

The summit will start at 18:00 local time.

Documents will be signed and a press conference of the Presidents and GUAM secretary general will be held by results of the summit.

By invitation of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili the heads of states will gather for a dinner.

Azerbaijan will pass chairmanship in the organization to Georgia next year.

The summit envisions meetings in the frameworks GUAM-US, GUAM-Japan, GUAM-Poland as well as meetings between presidents to discuss urhent issues of international policy, bilateral relations and energy issues.

The second summit of the GUAM presidents was held on June 18-19 of 2007 in Baku. Upon the completion the GUAM presidents signed the Baku declaration of the summit, defined strategy of development of sphere cooperation with GUAM.

The sides stressed importance of development of mutually profitable contacts between GUAM and EU, as well as regional organizations, processes and initiatives.

The sides also signed an agreement on privilages and immunities of GUAM, memorandum of cooperation and mutual assistance on issues of nuclear and radiation security between the governments of the GUAM member-states, agreement between the governments of the GUAM member-states on international multimodal cargo transportations, protocol of cooperation in the sphere of culture between the GUAM states for 2007-2010.

/Novosti-Georgia/, /Georgia-Online/, /APA/