Summit of GUAM Heads of Government

The summit of the heads of government of the GUAM countries was held in Kiev on March 27. The heads of governments of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, Vladimir Groisman, Georgy Kvirikashvili and Pavel Filip, as well as the Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ismet Abbasov attended the meeting.

The focus was on economic cooperation and development of transport communications. The parties agreed on the establishment of the GUAM Free Trade Zone. A protocol was agreed upon and signed.

According to the Ukrainian Prime Minister Vladimir Groisman, progress towards the establishment of a free trade zone between GUAM countries requires simplification of customs procedures. He expects to launch a free trade zone between the GUAM countries (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) as early as 2017.

 In the joint declaration of the summit, a special place was given to the settlement of conflicts in the territories of the GUAM countries. The need to resolve these conflicts, based on the principles of territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders, was underlined. GUAM intends to continue efforts and cooperation in this direction.

 The need to develop the GUAM transport corridor and encourage the creation of free trade and use of its capabilities was also supported.

GUAM was established in 1997. The summit in Kiev was the first high-level meeting of the kind in the framework of GUAM for the last 9 years. -06D--