Original: Russian

December 17-18, 2017 in Tbilisi, Georgia, under the chairmanship of the Head of the delegation for the Parliament of Georgia in the GUAM Parliamentary Assembly, the tenth session of the GUAM Parliamentary Assembly was held. The parliamentary delegations of all GUAM Member States attended the session.

The Parliamentary Assembly welcomed the holding of the Tenth Session of the Assembly at a high level with the participation of representatives of partner organizations and high-level guests reflecting the important role and significance of the GUAM PA in the system of European interparliamentary cooperation.

The Parliamentary Assembly welcomed the 20th Anniversary of GUAM and expressed its special satisfaction with the development of a high degree of interaction and fruitful cooperation of the Organization’s Member States in all directions, in particular in the political, sectoral and parliamentary dimension of GUAM.

In this context, the participants of the Assembly testified that the Parliamentary Assembly played an important role in the system of international relations, manifested in the strengthening cooperation and the enhancing solidarity of the GUAM PA parliamentarians, focusing their efforts on upholding common interests based on mutual trust and support.

The participants of the Assembly highly appreciated the role of regional and international parliamentary organizations in the development of interregional cooperation in the face of the growing international tension characterized by the violation of the universally recognized norms and principles of the international law.

The Parliamentary Assembly expressed the extreme concern over the unresolved conflicts on the territory of the GUAM Member States which continue to undermine their sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Parliamentary Assembly reaffirmed its firm and consistent position that the settlement of the conflicts in the GUAM area should be carried out solely based on respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of the internationally recognized borders of states. In this regard, the GUAM Parliamentary Assembly reaffirmed the fundamental importance of the principles enshrined in Joint Declaration of the Heads of State of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development – GUAM of May 23, 2006.

The Parliamentary Assembly reaffirmed its principled position that the territory of a state can not be the object of seizure or military occupation or annexation resulting from the threat or use of force in the violation of the relevant norms of the international law.

The Parliamentary Assembly made an appeal to the international community for constant efforts and support for the early resolution of unresolved conflicts on the territory of the GUAM Member States based on the above mentioned principles in accordance with the resolutions of the Security Council and the UN General Assembly, as well as documents and decisions of other international organizations.

In this context, the participants of the Assembly stressed the importance of effective partnership dialogue and interaction between the GUAM Parliamentary Assembly and other regional parliamentary organizations as an effective instrument for the development of interregional cooperation.

The Parliamentary Assembly stressed the special efforts of the GUAM Member States to strengthen the image of the GUAM PA as a reliable cooperation platform at the European and international level in order to promote international peace, security and sustainable development.

In this regard, the Parliamentary Assembly reaffirmed its determined intention to continue its efforts to deepen interparliamentary cooperation and develop contacts between the parliamentarians of the GUAM Member States in order to facilitate the implementation of mutual actions to ensure security and stability in the region and to strengthen the democratic, social and humanitarian development of the GUAM Member States.

The Parliamentary Assembly welcomed the appeal of the Baltic Assembly on October 10, 2017, to the Heads of State and Government of the Eastern Partnership Summit expressing the position of the Partner for the GUAM PA in strong political support of the Eastern Partnership countries.

In its turn, the Parliamentary Assembly reaffirmed its firm intention to continue developing and strengthening trust and partnership relations in the system of international cooperation existing with the Baltic Assembly, the Benelux Parliament, the Nordic Council, the Visegrad Group and other international and regional interparliamentary associations to ensure protection and promotion of common interests of the GUAM Member States.

The Parliamentary Assembly welcomed the achievements of the sectoral cooperation developed within the GUAM for the past years.

Given the growing international importance attached to global trade and transport links, the PA reaffirmed the need to further expand trade and economic relations and strengthen interregional ties in order to make good use of the GUAM transit and transport potential at the regional and interregional level.

The Parliamentary Assembly also expressed its intention to continue to promote the expansion of humanitarian contacts and the deepening of cultural exchange between the Member States.

In this regard, the Parliamentary Assembly welcomed the holding of Joint Meeting of the relevant Committees of the GUAM PA and took note of the reports on their activity.

The Parliamentary Assembly pointed out the need to intensify the activity of the four Committees of the GUAM Parliamentary Assembly by initiating and implementing specific GUAM projects and programs of cooperation, as well as considering legislative initiatives and assisting the process of ratification of the relevant GUAM documents.

The Parliamentary Assembly approved amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the GUAM Parliamentary Assembly agreed at the 11th Meeting of the Bureau.

The Parliamentary Assembly expressed its gratitude to the Parliament of Georgia for providing the conditions for the productive work of the Assembly, as well as for the warm hospitality extended to the delegations of the GUAM Member States in Tbilisi.

The Parliamentary Assembly also expressed gratitude to the Secretariat of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development – GUAM for assisting in the conduct of the Parliamentary Assembly and the events of parliamentary cooperation of various formats.

The Parliamentary Assembly decided to transfer the Chairmanship to the GUAM PA to the Republic of Moldova.

The dates and venue of the Eleventh Session of the GUAM Parliamentary Assembly in 2018 will be coordinated through diplomatic channels.

Adopted in Tbilisi, Georgia, December 17-18, 2017.