Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Secretary General of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM Valeri Chechelashvili discussed the prospects of the organization in Baku on Monday.

The sides discussed the current state of cooperation between Azerbaijan and GUAM and explored ways how to further broaden this cooperation. They also emphasized the importance of intensifying cooperation between the member states across wide ranging areas such as transportation, tourism, infrastructure and information and communication technologies.

Chechelashvili informed about the activities of the organization as well as the cooperation with other international organizations and states.

He stressed the importance of international conference dedicated to strengthening cooperation in the fight against terrorism that is being held in Baku on March 18-19.

Chechelashvili also underlined the need for the organization to strengthen the fight against new global challenges, in particular global threats such as cyber-crime.

During the talks, the sides also exchanged opinions on planned events of the GUAM.

GUAM was established in 1997 during the EU presidential summit in Strasbourg. In 1999, Uzbekistan joined the organization, but withdrew four years later. The new title, Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM, was adopted at the first session of the organization held in Kiev in 2006.

The basic priorities of the organization include the strengthening of the values of democracy, the rule of law, human rights and freedoms, stability and security, combating international terrorism, aggressive separatism, extremism and transnational organized crime, deepening of the European integration and achievement of sustainable development and well-being of the member nations.

GUAM is an open organization, and any country sharing its purposes and principles may join it.