Domestic

Domestic

Baku hosts GUAM summit

18 June 2007 11:50 (UTC +04:00)

Heads of GUAMâ€™s economic structures-energy, communication, transport, customs bodies have started meeting first in the framework of the summit.
Azerbaijani Communications and Information Minister Ali Abbasov told APA that the parties show great interest in cooperation in a number of projects such as Trans-Europe-Asia optic cable line, E-Government, establishment of radio and television broadcasting infrastructure in border regions.
He added that the issues on establishment of economic zones and technoparks will also be discussed.
â€œWe suggested discussing issues on coordination of economic zones in the member states. The parties have agreed to have discussion on the matter,â€ he noted.
The GUAM Summit will mainly discuss Odessa-Brody pipeline project agreed by Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Georgia and Azerbaijan at Krakow Summit, Poland.
Azerbaijani Energy Minister Natig Aliyev said each party wants to take a particular role in this project.
â€œIt has not yet agreed how the parties will participate in this project. Azerbaijan will be represented by the State Oil Company (SOCAR) in the project,â€ he noted.
Natig Aliyev added that Vilnius will host the Energy Summit in September.
â€œOdessa-Brody pipeline project will be reviewed at the Vilnius Summit. These countries take interest in our oil only at present. Likely, our gas will interest them in the nearest future,â€ he concluded
Transport Ministers and Working Groups of GUAM states started discussions after the meeting of economic structures. Transport ministry officer Sadraddin Mammadov told the APA Economics the meeting debated expanding cooperation in transport field, future projects, liquidation of obstacles and issues on multimodal transportation. A multilateral agreement is to be concluded on multimodal transportation between GUAM states./APA-Economics/
The meeting of GUAM law-enforcement bodies â€“ heads of national security, interior, emergencies, border services and prosecutor generals was also held today. Ukraineâ€™s Deputy Prosecutor General Victor Pshonka said the meeting focused on cooperation of GUAM member states in the fight against terrorism and some other issues.
A well-informed source told the APA the meeting of the law enforcement officials focused on the fight against terrorism and narcomania, mutual legal assistance as well as extradition among the member states, methods of joint struggle against crimes and some other issues. A joint protocol was concluded on the agreed issues.
GUAM humanitarian bloc has also met. Azerbaijani Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfas Garayev said that cooperation of GUAM member states was debated at the meeting.
â€œCooperation was highly appreciated as GUAM member states has had cooperation in humanitarian sphere before. Besides, there is no divergence among these countries, and there is great potential for cooperation,â€ the Minister underlined.
Mr. Garayev said the meeting also focused on the participation of GUAM member states with joint projects in international exhibitions.
â€œWe should do our best to form a special image of GUAM,â€ he said
GUAM Business Council has also gathered today.

Foreign ministers form the organization member states has already had talks. GUAM foreign ministers and the US started negotiations. Dank Crammer counselor to the Secretary of State said that this is the next meeting in the US-GUAM format.
â€œRelations and cooperation between the US and GUAM are debated at these meetings,â€ he said.
Mr. Crammer stated that the US does not intend to enter GUAM.
â€œGUAM is a regional organization. We are pleased with our status of observer in GUAM and support the organizationâ€™s development. The US is satisfied with GUAMâ€™s strengthening,â€ he said
Following this, talks will be held with Polish and Japanese representatives on prospects of cooperation with the organization.
The heads of GUAM member states are intended to have private meeting in Baku also in the second half of the day.
The main summit of GUAM and ceremony of signing documents will be held on Tuesday.
Several documents are expected to be concluded in the summit. These documents are Baku Declaration, communiquÃ© of GUAMâ€™s second summit, agreement on privileges and immunities of GUAM, memorandum of cooperation and assistance on nuclear and radiation security, GUAM-Poland joint statement.
All the meetings in GUAM summit are closed for media representatives.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakahsvili, Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, Moldovan Prime Minister Vasil Tarlev will attend the summit. /APA/