In accordance with the decision of the Heads of State of the GUUAM Group, adopted during their Summit on 6 September 2000 in New York, regular meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the GUUAM Group states took place on 26 November in Vienna.
In the course of the meeting the parties dwelt upon the development of GUUAM cooperation, including interaction within international organizations. The Ministers reaffirmed the resolve of the GUUAM Group to continue to deepen mutually advantageous cooperation in various fields.
Participants of the meeting discussed in detail the preparation for the next Summit of GUUAM, which is scheduled to be held in the first quarter of 2001 in Kyiv.
The Ministers noted with satisfaction the activities of the Committee of National Coordinators (CNС) and the results of its meetings held in Kyiv, Baku, Tbilisi and Chisinau. They approved the Perspective Plan of Development of GUUAM for 2000-2001 and instructed the national coordinators to elaborate further steps to reinvigorate the cooperation within GUUAM.
Parties took for consideration the draft Agreement on the GUUAM free trade zone, elaborated by Georgia, and the draft Convention on mutual provision by the consular departments of GUUAM countries of assistance to physical persons (citizens) of GUUAM in emergency situations, elaborated by Ukraine.
Issues related to structuring of the GUUAM Group, setting up of Public Consultative Council of GUUAM and other proposals fixed in the Protocol of the CNC meeting in Chisinau were discussed at the meeting.
It was decided that the relevant agencies of GUUAM countries should undertake measures on agreeing on the documents for the GUUAM Summit to be held in Kyiv. Ministers instructed the CNC to supervise this work.
Parties positively noted the first meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the GUUAM states with the US Secretary of State and discussed the prospects of development of the GUUAM-US dialogue.
Participants of the meeting agreed upon their positions for the meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council. Text of the joint address of the GUUAM Group at that meeting was approved.
Ministers gave their unanimous supported for the candidature of the representative of Ukraine Mr. Boris Tarasyuk for the post of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities.
Parties welcomed the decision of the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe of 9 November 2000 to invite the Republic of Azerbaijan to join this authoritative international organization.
Vienna, 26 November 2000
