On September 21, 2017, in New York, the 22nd meeting of the GUAM Council of Ministers for Foreign Affairs with the delegation of the United States of America took place on the sidelines of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly.

The Council reconfirmed its interest in further development of an efficient and beneficial cooperation with the USA.

The Sides assessed their cooperation following the last GUAM-USA Meeting, held in Basel, Switzerland, on December 5, 2014, and exchanged their views on the issues of mutual interest. The Sides expressed common interest in enhancing GUAM-USA dialogue.

The Sides took positive note of the 20th anniversary of the GUAM establishment and emphasized the importance of GUAM-USA cooperation throughout the past years.

The Sides reiterated their common position that the maintenance of peace, security, stability and cooperation in the region is an important element of collective efforts to create a common space of indivisible security for all States in the broader regional context without exceptions and distinctions.

The Sides underscored the need for progress toward the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the GUAM region. They agreed to continue dialogue on these conflicts in the appropriate fora.

The threat or use of force currently affecting the Member States of GUAM remains a serious concern. The Sides reaffirmed their commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the GUAM Member States.

The Sides also recalled their obligations to respect the universally recognized norms and principles of international law, including those enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, the Helsinki Final Act, and their commitments under the fundamental documents of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

The Sides outlined the 15th anniversary of the Framework Program on Facilitation of Trade and Transportation, Securing Borders and Customs Control and Combating Terrorism, Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking and underscored its important role in reinforcing the cooperation in the GUAM-US format.

The Sides took a positive note of GUAM project proposals, namely:

– The optimization of data collection and processing of legal statistics in law enforcement and other competent bodies of the GUAM Member States;
– The use of criminal operative analysis in actions aimed to combat illegal migration and human trafficking;
– Evaluation of natural/manmade risks and ways of rehabilitation of territories affected by the military conflicts and emergency situations in the GUAM Member States.

Furthermore, the Sides agreed to continue discussion on cooperation in the field of Cyber Security.

The Sides reconfirmed their desire to continue high-level dialogue on a broad range of regional and global issues.

The time and venue of next GUAM-USA meeting will be decided via diplomatic channels.