On February 21, 2008 in Warsaw, Poland, the first meeting of national coordinators between Poland and the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development – GUAM took place. The meeting of national coordinators was organized as a follow-up of Poland-GUAM meeting at the level of Heads of States and Ministers of Foreign Affairs held in Baku and New York in 2007. The meeting was opened with the statement of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Mr. Radoslaw Sikorski.
Within the framework of the 1st Poland-GUAM national coordinators’ meeting, two sessions or political and economic consultations were conducted by Mrs. Grazyna Bernatowicz, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Poland. GUAM Organization was represented by Mr. Khalaf Khalafov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan (acting chairing country of GUAM), Mr. Nikoloz Vashakidze, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Mr. Valeriu Ostalep, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, Mr. Andriy Veselovsky, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, as well as Mr. Valeri Chechelashvili, GUAM Secretary General.
The sides discussed the possibilities of multilateral cooperation in such areas as trade and investment promotion, energy, transportation and tourism. They agreed to take steps aiming at enhancing the trade volume between Poland and GUAM Member States. Questions of political cooperation were also on the agenda of the meeting. The sides emphasized the role of increased engagement of European Union in the GUAM area and expressed their will to use to the highest point the possibilities offered by European Neighborhood Policy, Poland offered its assistance in implementing ENP Action Plans to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova, and expressed its support for the upcoming New Enhanced Agreement EU-Ukraine.
The sides confirmed their dedication to GUAM Organization principles, in particular to promotion of democratic values and rule of law in all spheres of activities of the state and society. The sides expressed their commitment to the peaceful resolution of conflicts in GUAM area on the basis of the United Nations Security Council relevant resolutions. Poland reaffirms its attachment to the principle of preserving the territorial integrity of the conflict-affected GUAM states within their internationally recognized borders in the process of final settlement of conflicts.
The Polish side expressed its intention to continue to support GUAM and its member states in their efforts to consolidate democracy and market economy. Polish side declared its interest in continuing cooperation with GUAM.
The sides agreed to continue intensive and substantial dialogue through the network of meetings on different levels in Poland-GUAM format.
