On 7 December 2011 in Vilnius, Lithuania, the second GUAM-Japan ministerial meeting was held within the framework of the 18th Ministerial Meeting of OSCE. The GUAM Side was represented by Mr. Elmar Mammedyarov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Grigol Vashadze, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Mr. Iurie Leanca, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Republic of Moldova (GUAM Presidency), Mr. Valerii Zhovtenko, Ambassador of Ukraine in the Republic of Lithuania and Mr. Valeri Chechelashivili, GUAM Secretary General. The Japanese Side was represented by Mr. Yutaka Iimura, Special Representative of the Government of Japan for the Middle East and Europe.
The Sides exchanged views in favor of intensifying political dialog and discussed issues of mutual interest, including energy, transit and transportation, trade and investment, elimination of consequences of emergency situations and tourism as well as peaceful resolution of conflicts on the basis of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The Sides agreed to start the deliberations on mid-term plan of cooperation, based on each countries National economic and social Agendas.
Both Sides welcomed active and fruitful dialogue that has been conducted since establishment of full-fledged regional cooperation Organization for Democracy and Economic Development – GUAM. The Sides emphasized the necessity while implementing joint projects and programs of cooperation to further develop ground – based approach aimed to achieve practical results.
The Sides decided to capitalize on positive experience of cooperation in the sphere of tourism. The GUAM reiterated its readiness to invite Japan mass-media representatives to GUAM member-states to further promote attractiveness of Caspian – Black Sea region in Japan. Both Sides also welcomed close cooperation in investment and trade promotion and prevention/elimination of consequences of emergency situations/natural disasters.
The Japanese side reiterated the readiness to organize a workshop in Tokyo on energy security for GUAM member states in the period of 15 -23 January of 2012. Both Sides expressed their intention to jointly prepare for the workshop, aiming it to pave way for closer cooperation in alternative energy and LNG related issues both in GUAM and GUAM-Japan formats. The GUAM expressed their will to promote energy cooperation in the region, capitalizing, inter alia, on the results of the forthcoming workshop and welcomed the readiness of Japan to stronger engage in Caspian – Black Sea regional energy cooperation.
Both Sides welcomed active and fruitful dialogues between Japan and GUAM conducted at different level. The Sides expressed appreciation of “GUAM-Japan” tradition of ministerial meetings on the occasion of the OSCE ministerial councils and visits of GUAM member-states National Coordinators and Secretary General to Tokyo, Japan. It was decided to hold the next “GUAM-Japan” meeting at the senior official level at a mutually convenient date and venue in the first half of next year. The Sides welcomed as well regular dialogue in Tokyo between representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Ambassadors of the GUAM member states in Tokyo.
The Sides concluded the meeting by reaffirming their strong intention to intensify GUAM-Japan regular policy dialogue and strengthen GUAM-Japan sectoral cooperation. In this regard, the date and venue of the next “GUAM-Japan” meeting will be coordinated through the diplomatic channels.
