Final Communiqué of the Yalta GUUAM Summit
On
6-7 June 2001 the Summit of the Presidents of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of Uzbekistan and Ukraine took
place in Yalta (Ukraine). Within the framework of the Summit the status and
prospects of cooperation within the GUUAM were discussed.
Taking
into account traditional historic ties, the Heads of State reaffirmed their
readiness to fulfill further the earlier adopted decisions regarding the
interaction of their countries in all spheres of mutual interest.
There
was held a discussion of the issues connected with the development, effective
functioning and ensuring of the security of the transport infrastructure in the
territories of the GUUAM Member-States, including the Europe-Caucasus-Asia
Transport Corridor (TRACECA).
Parties condemned all forms and kinds of separatism, nationalism, extremism and terrorism, they reaffirmed adherence to peaceful settlement of conflicts on the basis of the generally accepted norms and principles of international law, in particular, on the respect for sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and non-interference in domestic affairs of the Member States.
As
a result of the Summit the Yalta GUUAM Charter, the Convention on Rendering
Mutual Assistance in Consular Matters were signed. The Heads of States stressed
the importance of finishing the preparation of the Agreement on the
Establishment of the GUUAM Free Trade Area, with the view of its signing.
The Yalta GUUAM Charter fixes the principal directions of the forum, defines the objectives and principles of the multilateral cooperation, and establishes the format and periodicity the meetings among the Heads of State of the Member States. Further strengthening of relations shall favor the development of interaction among the GUUAM Member States, and promote cooperation in political, trade and economic, humanitarian and other spheres of mutual interest.
The Convention on Rendering Mutual Assistance in Consular Matters lays down legal basis for interaction in the sphere of protecting rights and interests of individuals and legal entities of the GUUAM Member States in the territories of third countries.
The
Presidents issued an instruction to ensure realisation of Perspective Activity
Plan adopted by the Foreign Ministers in November 2000, to elaborate respective
regulations on the GUUAM Information Office in Kyiv and determine the order of
its opening, and also to work out the document which will be regulating status
of observer in GUUAM.
Parties
agreed that the Governmental Economic Forum of GUUAM states will be held in the
Republic of Uzbekistan in 2001 and the representatives of the interested
international organizations will be invited to take part in it.
The
Yalta GUUAM Summit laid down foundations for a deeper cooperation among the
GUUAM Member States. Implementation of the GUUAM Summit decisions shall promote
further interaction and all-round cooperation among the Republic of Azerbaijan,
Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of Uzbekistan and Ukraine.
An
agreement was reached to hold the next GUUAM Summit at Yalta (Ukraine) in 2002.