On September 23rd 2008 in New York, 14th meeting of the GUAM Council of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs – United States of America was held within the framework of the general debates of the 63rd Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

The sides reiterated the consistent and sustainable character of GUAM – United States political dialogue. They exchanged views on the situation in the region as well as on the joint efforts within the Agenda Item 13 of the 63rd UN General Assembly Session entitled “Protracted conflicts in GUAM area and their implications for international peace, security and development.” The sides expressed their conviction that the international community shall intensify efforts on the settlement of the protracted conflicts in the GUAM area on the basis of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders of GUAM Member States, as well as other basic principles of international law.

The sides assessed their cooperation following the GUAM – United States meeting in Batumi on July 1, 2008 within the framework of the Third GUAM Summit and agreed to continue implementation of joint projects they agreed upon for 2008-2009 in the fields of combating trade in human beings and illegal migration, illicit drug trafficking, and modernization of national segments of the GUAM Interstate Information Management System.

The sides agreed also to continue to elaborate within the Framework GUAM-USA Program on Facilitation of Trade and Transportation, Securing Border and Customs Control and Combating Terrorism, Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking new projects in sphere of border cooperation with the purpose to assist GUAM Member States’ Border Guard Services to provide security of the GUAM Transport Corridor.

GUAM highly appreciated the technical assistance of the US side provided to GUAM, including its Secretariat.
The sides agreed to have the next GUAM – United States meeting in the beginning of December in Helsinki within the framework of the OSCE Ministerial Council.

New York, September 23, 2008