1. On 23 September 2008, within the framework of the general debates on the 63rd session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, the 7th meeting of the GUAM Council of Ministers for Foreign Affairs (CMFA) took place in New York.
  2. CMFA discussed current issues of GUAM activity. The Ministers noted especially the necessity to focus efforts of the Presiding Party, the Member States and the Secretariat on fulfillment of the decisions of the Batumi GUAM Summit of the 1st July 2008, including the Decision of the Council of the Heads of State “On Intensification of GUAM Sector Cooperation” and the Statement of the Heads of State of GUAM “On development of the GUAM transport corridor”.
  3. CMFA discussed issues of political cooperation of the GUAM Member States in ensuring peace, security and stability in the region in the context of the agenda item 13 of the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly “Protracted conflicts in the GUAM area and their implications for international peace, security and development”. The Parties agreed to intensify common consultations with the purpose to effectively advance within the framework of the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly the resolution “Protracted conflicts in the GUAM area and their implications for international peace, security and development” initiated by GUAM. The Ministers 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 the GUAM Member States.
    CMFA discussed situation emerged in the aftermath of the Russian-Georgian conflict. The Parties spoke up for the settlement of all conflicts in the GUAM area on the basis of the principles fixed in the Joint Declaration of the Heads of State of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development – GUAM on the issue of conflict settlement of the 23rd May 2006.
  4. CMFA considered issues of GUAM cooperation with partner countries and commissioned the Council of National Coordinators (CNC) to elaborate organizational issues of the meetings with partners in the framework of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Helsinki.
  5. CMFA discussed issues of sector cooperation and charged the Working Group on Transport (WGT), in coordination with other sector working groups, to intensify activity on elaborating a complex concept of the development of GUAM transport corridor. CMFA discussed issues related to the improvement of the activities of the working bodies in accordance with the Charter and other documents of GUAM as well as implementation of the GUAM Strategy for Sector Cooperation Development by all working bodies. Taking into account new technological and technical capabilities of the Secretariat, CMFA charged the GUAM working bodies to intensify their work towards the implementation of the decisions of the Batumi Summit as well as elaboration of GUAM cooperation projects and programs, including those in the “GUAM+” format.
  6. CMFA appealed for earliest conclusion in all Member States of the process of ratification of the Charter and the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of GUAM.
    CMFA heard the information of the Secretary General of GUAM on the Secretariat activity and took the decision to hold inauguration of a new office of the GUAM Secretariat till the end of 2008. CMFA heard also the information of the Secretary General of GUAM on the GUAM Member States contributions and the GUAM Budget execution.
  7. CMFA agreed to hold its regular meeting in Helsinki in the beginning of December 2008 within the framework of the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting.