From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Fri Oct 13 2000 - 11:07:51 EDT
INFORMAL ASSOCIATION GUUAM MIGHT ACQUIRE OFFICIAL STATUS NEXT YEAR -
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT
TASHKENT. Oct 12 (Interfax-Ukraine) - The informal association
GUUAM might be "formalized" at the meeting of the presidents of the
countries making up this organization in Kiev next year, Ukrainian
President Leonid Kuchma announced at a Thursday press conference in
Tashkent following talks with Uzbek President Islam Karimov.
GUUAM is composed of Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and
Moldova. Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova had originally created
the organization in 1997, proceeding from their common interest in
creating a European transport corridor. Uzbekistan joined the
organization in 1998.
The GUUAM leaders have repeatedly stated that the association is
not directed against any third country and that the five states are
joined by purely economic interests. The Ukrainian and Georgian
presidents had earlier responded negatively to questions as to whether a
military bloc might be established within the GUUAM framework.
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