The 12th Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development – GUAM – took place at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov congratulated participants of the GUAM Parliamentary Assembly session. He assured the GUAM PA delegations that all developments gained in the framework of bilateral interstate and inter-parliamentary relations, as well as during the GUAM cooperation are very important for Ukraine and are of high priority, and the shift in Ukraine’s heading would be aimed at deepening cooperation in this field.
Dmytro Razumkov also thanked the delegates for the continuous support and understanding of what is happening in Ukraine, for GUAM’s aiding in the fight for Ukraine’s territorial integrity. He expressed confidence in further deepening inter-parliamentary cooperation and in building up the organization as a whole.
Dmytro Razumkov informed the audience about the difficult situation in Ukraine, which is making every effort to fight for its territorial integrity, and assured that the state is entirely focusing upon diplomatic ways of solving this problem. At the same time, he emphasized: “There are red lines in addressing territorial integrity. There can be no trade deals over our territories and our citizens. This is our principled stand".
The Chairman then observed that Ukraine is seeking to expand cooperation in the fields of trade, economy, science, transport, energy and telecommunications. It could thus create more favourable conditions for cooperating, attracting investments and exchanging experience. Dmytro Razumkov expressed his hope for deepening economic cooperation within the GUAM family.
Afterwards, the deputy foreign minister Vasyl Bodnar gave his address to participants of the PA session. He congratulated the delegates of the PA member countries. He then noted that GUAM observers had testified a serious progress in establishing democracy in Ukraine. The new reform-minded government and parliament are both seeking to renew co-operation within the GUAM. Ukraine does need a new - useful and effective - mechanism of interaction that will help GUAM countries become stronger, take a proper place in the region and make good profit, Vasyl Bodnar stated.
The deputy foreign minister informed the confeerees that on December 12 there would be held in Ukraine a summit of the GUAM member states’ prime ministers.
At the opening of the session, chairs of the Azerbaijani, Georgian and Moldovan permanent delegations to the GUAM PA A.Karimli, G. Mosidze, and O. Zhizdan delivered their speeches of welcome. GUAM Secretary General Altai Efendiev and Baltic Assembly President Janis Vucans made their welcoming speeches as well.
During the meeting, there was signed a cooperation agreement between the GUAM PA and the Baltic Assembly.
In the course of the meeting, participants of the 12th GUAM PA session discussed the following issues: national priorities and enhanced cooperation between GUAM member countries in view of new global challenges in the region, establishment of a GUAM-based cyber security center, economic benchmarks and prospects for trade and economic development, implementation of projects in the field of energy and infrastructure, development of regional inter-parliamentary cooperation and enhancement of the GUAM PA’s role, and cooperation within international organizations.
GUAM PA Chairman, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada permanent delegation to the GUAM PA Sviatoslav Yurash asserted that proper actions would be carried out next year to bring a free trade zone between GUAM members into reality.
Sviatoslav Yurash also addressed the issue of cyber security. He proposed to set up a cyber-security center within the GUAM format.
The permanent delegation chair also touched upon the issue of energy. He noted that there are a number of projects that have been at a stop for years and often through Ukraine’s fault. The new management is trying to broach these issues and set in motion such projects as “Odesa-Brody”, TANAP and so forth. Sources of energy need to get more diversified.
It is important, for example, that the Azerbaijan-Ukraine energy
potential would finally reach Europe freely. It is
necessary to make progress in these projects.
The 12th session resulted in the adoption of a final document (communique).