Georgian authorities predict GUAM to have a serious political future

Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, David Usupashvili says GUAM (Organization for Democracy and Economic Development) has a serious political future.

According to Usupashvili, several countries, as well as inter-state unions are starting to actively cooperate with the GUAM.

"GUAM, as aunion of four states, has become a central point of gravity for the Baltic states, Eastern European countries, and United States, Usupashvili said and underlined that for two member states Georgia and Moldova current year is ending with significant achievements because of the Vilnius Summit results.

As for another two member states Usupashvili said that Azerbaijani voluntarily declared they will keep different pace of Euro-integration and as for the Ukraine, the Parliament Speaker hopes they will get closer to the EU despite the events that took place in the country during last few days and Ukraine and Georgia will continue to move to Europe together.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maia Panjikidze, in turn, assessed Georgias presidency of GUAM to be successful.

"While being a country of Presidency of GUAM, Georgias aim was to strengthen cooperation with partners and other member states, she said adding the most recent result of the member states strategic cooperation was the Vilnius declaration  which was adopted on November 29 on the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, as the country of presidency of the European Council, and GUAM member countries.

"This is a unique document shows that multilateral cooperation in GUAM framework continues to be embodiment of our shared interests and values?? including the European aspirations," The minister said in her speech delivered on the GUAM parliamentary session underling the high level of economic cooperation between the member states which was possible after creation of the Free Trade Area of GUAM. She also referred to the challenges that face the organization. According to Panjikidze, conflicts within the GUAM boundaries are negatively reflected as on the regions, as on international security.

The participants of the 6^th session of the Parliamentary Assembly of GUAM, being held in Tbilisi for two days, will receive a declaration. As Usupashivli pointed out, aspirations of the member states of the organization will be reflected in the document.