14 December 2015, 08:51
Welcome
speeches were delivered by the President of the GUAM PA, Chairperson of the
Permanent Delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the GUAM PA A. Matvienko,
Secretary General of the GUAM PA V. Chechelashvili, Head of the Permanent
Delegation of the Parliament of Azerbaijan A. Karimli, Deputy Secretary General
of the PABSEC M. Makrygiannis, Head of the Permanent
Delegation of the Parliament of Georgia Z. Abashidze.
The meeting of the session was also attended by members of the Baltic Assembly.
In the framework of the eighth session they discussed the following issues:
1. Security in the region: political and legal aspects of interaction among the
GUAM member-states (speaker - the President of the Baltic Assembly G.
Purvaneckiene);
2. Energy bridge Caucasus - Eastern Europe: challenges and expectations
(speaker - a member of the Permanent Delegation of the Parliament of Azerbaijan
in the GUAM PA A. Masimli);
3. Experience and prospects of attracting foreign investment to the economy of
the GUAM member-states. Tourism as a tool of attracting investment (speaker -
the Head of the Department of Tourism and Resorts of the Ministry of Economic
Development and Trade I. Lituha).
The GUAM Parliamentary Assembly and the Baltic Assembly adopted a joint
statement.
The participants of the Session emphasized that
in recent years, the traditional and enhanced dialogue between the GUAM
Parliamentary Assembly and the Baltic Assembly has demonstrated its value and
capacity in the context of the ongoing international crises. It has already
contributed to a better understanding of mutual goals and objectives, as well
as enhancing stability and trust within the region.
The participants expressed their deep concern
over the aggressive actions directed against Ukraine’s sovereignty and
territorial integrity. They reaffirmed their strong commitment to the
universally recognised norms and principles of international law, the goals and
objectives of the Charter of the United Nations, the provisions of the
fundamental documents of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe and the provisions of the statutory documents of the GUAM Parliamentary
Assembly and the Baltic Assembly. They called upon the international community
to condemn the acquisition of the territory of a sovereign state through use of
force, reaffirmed their commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity
and inviolability of the internationally recognized borders of all states in
the region, and the willingness to act
according to their principles.
The participants reaffirmed their consistent position that the conflicts in the GUAM region should be settled solely on the basis of respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of the internationally recognized borders of UN member states. The territory of a state cannot be the subject of acquisition or military occupation resulting from the threat or use of force in violation of the relevant norms and principles of international law. No territorial acquisition resulting from war or any kind of pressure can be deemed legitimate under any circumstances. In this light, the participants confirmed the fundamental value of the principles enshrined in the Joint Declaration of the Heads of State of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development – GUAM on May 23, 2006. The participants emphasized that they will continue to work together on the basis of shared priorities and values, while respecting the national priorities and objectives of the Member States.
The participants underlined the importance of holding common sittings of the working bodies and thanked the Parliament of Ukraine for the hospitality and perfect organization of the Session.