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Baku hosts GUAM second summit

19 June 2007 12:12 (UTC +04:00)

The summit has brought together Presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Lithuania- Ilham Aliyev, Mikhail Saakashvili, Victor Yushchenko, Lech Kaczynsky, Trian Basescu, Valdas Adamkus, Bulgarian Vice-President Angel Marin, Moldovan Prime Minister Vasili Tarlev as well as delegations from the US, Estonia and other countries.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressing the summit appraised the successful activity of the organization during the one-year chairmanship of Ukraine. He underlined that as GUAM is an Organization for Democracy and Economic Development efforts should be made for promotion of democracy and economic devilment in the member countries.
â€œAccording to latest exact calculations, Azerbaijanâ€™s only one oil field is rich in 1 trillion 200 million tonnes of oil reserve. At least 1 million barrels of oil will be produced in the country next year, the indicator will in crease in coming years,â€ he stressed.
President Aliyev touching on the already operating Baku-Supsa, Baku-Novorossiysk and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipelines reminded a large debate on Odessa-Brody-Gdansk oil pipeline at recent summit in Krakow. He said political support was demonstrated for the project at the mentioned summit.
â€œMoreover, European market is taking a keen interest in Azerbaijani gas, including Shah Deniz gas. Azerbaijanâ€™s operation gas fields have 1.5 trillion cubic meters of gas. And there exists the most up-to-date transport infrastructure, Baku-Tbilisi-Arzurum gas pipeline to transport this gas to European markets,â€ the President underlined.
Azerbaijani head of state said Azerbaijan has turned to a gas exporter from this year.
â€œ70-70 percent of Georgian gas market is filled by Azerbaijani gas. Our gas will be exported to Turkey and Greece by the end of this year as well. So, Azerbaijan will enter the European Union market,â€ he said.
President Aliyev touching on the joint work of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia on the transport structure-Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway to link Europe with Asia reported the construction of the railway will soon start.
Azerbaijani President said GUAM countries do not only share common history, political views and interests, â€˜Unfortunately, our countries share a number of common problems. The challenging problems are conflicts in three GUAM member countries, violation of territorial integrity of Georgia, Moldova and Azerbaijan. Outlawed separatist regimes have achieved to occupy our lands through military aggression and ethnic cleansing against our countries. We are making efforts to reach a peaceful solution to these problems on the basis of international law norms and principles and diplomatic way. However, it seems it would be difficult to pull out the separatist forces from the occupied territories by their own will without achieving a powerful state, powerful economy and powerful military potential. So, we are uniting our efforts to demonstrate the criminalistic content of these separatist regimes to the whole world. It is very good that GUAM is taking a united position regarding this issue. The raise of he protracted conflicts in GUAM territory at the UN General Assembly can be considered a great success of the organization.â€™
Mr.Aliyev stressed the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development â€“ GUAM is at the next stage of its activity.
â€œDemocracy, human rights, building open society, the rule of law, integration into international and European structures, economic reforms, strengthening of economic potential, improvement of living standard-these are our goals and priorities,â€ the President concluded.
Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko addressing the summit underlined that the organization attracts attention of the international community. â€œGUAM strengthens its relations with different international organizations,â€ he said.
Speaking of the implementation of the Odessa-Brody oil pipeline President Yushchenko said that the pipeline is planned to reach Poland.
â€œWe intend to ensure complete operation of free trade zones. The free trade zones will conform to the demands of the World Trade Organization. There are Abkhazian, South Ossetian, Transdnestrian and Nagorno Karabakh conflicts in our countries. These problems need to be debated. The solution of these problems will establish security, stability in the region. GUAM is committed to be a guarantee of stability and security in the region,â€ he said.
Noting that GUAM has implemented joint projects to prevent illegal trade Ukrainian President said relations have also established in the sphere of transport.
â€œWe are doing our best so that the transport corridor will operate. GUAM organizes economic and political dialogues. We should do our best to achieve more improvements. Tourism relations should develop. We should jointly fight against terrorism. Globalization processes create conditions for increasing the role of regional organizations,â€ the President underlined.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvii said GUAM seriously differs from the Commonwealth of Independent States. He stressed that CIS is the only meeting club of head of states. â€œThe interests of all member states of this organization coincide, and European Union supports it. We already get Black Sea states to take part in the integration process and interesting negotiations were held with Bulgaria, Lithuania, Japan, Poland and other European statesâ€.
Saying that trade turnover between GUAM member states has increased Georgian President informed of the railway projects, presenting Azerbaijan as the author of geopolitical revolution carrying out Baku-Tbiisi-Kars project. â€œWe face the question of territorial conflicts. We should act in solidarity regarding such issuesâ€.
President Saakashvili reminded that last year Azerbaijan supplied Georgia with gas. â€It was both friendly and strategic step. In the 21st century, we should find solutions to the conflicts and problems together.â€
â€œWe should ensure efficient cooperation of GUAM member states. One of our priorities is integration into Europe,â€ Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev said in his address to the summit.
He underlined the necessity of strengthening the relations of GUAM with international organizations, UN, OSCE and world countries.
â€œOur main aim is to improve cooperation with international organizations and world countries. GUAM is successfully cooperating with the US. One of the proposals is to establish joint trade houses. Moldova can help establishing open trade houses. We can establish joint trade houses in Kishinev,â€ he said.
Vasile Tarlev said that cultural relations should also develop among GUAM member states.
â€œOne of the proposals is connected with the development of cultural relations. It is a pity that no event has been held in this sphere. Moldova is interested in implementation of NATO project. We should also attach great importance to energy security. This security has to be ensured. Ensuring energy security of GUAM member states is a very important problem,â€ he said.
Relations with GUAM are of great importance for Poland. We want GUAMâ€™s successful activity,â€ Polish President Lech KaczyÅ„ski said in GUAM Baku summit. He said that GUAM turned from economic organization into a political alliance.
â€œA part of these debates are connected with energy. Odessa-Brody oil pipeline is of great importance. On the other hand GUAM member states are considering prospects of cooperation with NATO. We have enough practice in this field. We can offer assistance to GUAM states,â€ he said.
Lech KaczyÅ„ski said that GUAM member states are of great importance for the European Union.
â€œGUAM states have large energy resources. Cultural relations among these countries are of great importance. Poland is a reliable ally of Poland. We are interested in political cooperation with GUAM states. There are interesting intiatives in GUAM which are observed for the first time,â€ he said.
Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus speaking in the Baku summit of GUAM emphasized the importance and strategic significance of the organization. Valdas Adamkus said Lithuania will promote GUAMâ€™s cooperation with EU. â€œIf you act on the way of carrying out reforms, you will settle problems quickly. We share GUAMâ€™s successes. GUAM-Euro Atlantic structures relations will be of great significance.â€
Azerbaijanâ€™s President Ilham Aliyev made a final speech at the end of GUAM summit, APA reports. Noting that GUAM member states faced serious problems after gaining independence Ilham Aliyev said the organizationâ€™s format and geography is extending.
â€œWe always felt the support of the US. We are glad that presidents of friendship countries participate in the summit. We will be able to strengthen our independence, economy, solve problems and apply standards of the European Union with international support. Our aim is to establish modern states,â€ the president said.
Azerbaijani President drew attention on protracted conflicts in GUAM territory.
â€œThese conflicts are called frozen conflicts. In fact they are not frozen. This peace is very fragile and can be violated any time. We will never admit violation of our territories and changing our borders. The world community will never recognize criminal regimes in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transnistria and Nagorno Karabakh. These regimes are black holes for Europe and are outlawed. International control over these territories is out of question. We can give the highest autonomy to these territories using European practice,â€ the President said.
The second summit of GUAM ended with concluding four documents; Baku declaration, GUAMâ€™s development strategy on spheres, 2007-2008 program on rotation of chairmanship to Azerbaijan and communiquÃ© of the second summit. /APA/