Unofficial translation

The Border Agencies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Ukraine, hereinafter referred to as the “Parties,”

in accordance with the provisions of the GUUAM Yalta Charter of June 7, 2001, the Declaration on Joint Efforts to Ensure Stability and Security in the Region of July 20, 2002, and the Agreement on Cooperation among the Governments of GUUAM Participating States in the Field of Combat Against Terrorism, Organized Crime and Other Dangerous Types of Crimes of July 20, 2002,

guided by the agreements outlined in the Protocol of the Second Working Meeting of the Heads of Border Agencies of the GUUAM Participating States of February 8, 2003,

with the aim to improve the system of ensuring the security of the State Borders of the GUUAM Participating States and the effective functioning of border control,

have agreed as follows:

Article 1

The main objectives of cooperation between the Parties are:

1.1. Consolidation of efforts to combat international terrorism, extremism, separatism, arms and drug smuggling, illegal migration and other dangerous crimes;

1.2. Creation of a common information space, as well as joining the European border-related information system;

1.3. Coordinated participation in the implementation of activities under the GUUAM Programmes of Activity and various international programmes, including the NATO Program “Partnership for Peace”.

Article 2

The Parties shall develop cooperation in the field of security of national borders in the following areas:

2.1. Ensuring the security of transport corridors and preventing their use for terrorist, extremist or other illegal purposes;

2.2. Implementing of a joint programmes on improving the mechanisms of preventing terrorist activities and organized crime, conducting coordinated operational measures in the relevant areas;

2.3. Preventing actions aimed at supporting separatist and extremist forces, as well as undermining the territorial integrity of GUUAM Member States;

2.4. Preventing weapons smuggling;

2.5. Combating illicit drug trafficking;

2.6. Preventing of illegal migration;

2.7. Combating illicit trafficking of nuclear materials, radioactive substances, material, equipment and dual-use technologies that could be used to develop and produce weapons of mass destruction;

2.8.  Increasing of efficiency and unification of border crossing procedures.

Article 3

The Parties shall hold regular consultations with purpose to coordinate activities for the implementation of joint projects and programs, to study issues related to the security of the state borders of the GUUAM Member States, to exchange information between the Border Agencies of the GUUAM Member States, and to develop common legal approaches for improving the legislation of the Parties in the field of ​​state border protection.

Article 4

Meetings of the Heads of the Border Agencies of the Parties shall be held as necessary, but not less than once a year.

The time and place of the next meeting shall be determined in due course.

Article 5

The Parties shall develop cooperation in the field of ​​training and advanced training of personnel of the Border Agencies of the GUUAM Member States.

Article 6

The Parties shall regularly exchange information in accordance with the legislation of the States of the Parties, as well as work on the creation of a unified information system based on telecommunications and computer networks and its eventual connection with the European border-related information system.

 Article 7

The Parties shall actively apply the GUUAM Information Office in Kyiv to ensure the implementation of joint projects and to provide information support for the implementation of activities agreed upon by the Parties.

Article 8

The Government of Ukraine shall be the Depositary of this Protocol.

Article 9

9.1. Amendments and additions may be made to this Protocol by mutual agreement of the Parties, formalized by separate additional Protocols, that shall constitute inalienable parts of this Protocol.

9.2. Additional Protocols shall enter into force in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 10 of this Protocol.

Article 10

10.1. This Protocol is concluded for an indefinite period and shall enter into force on the date of deposit the last written notification by the Parties on completion of the internal procedures necessary for its entry into force.

10.2. Any Contracting Party may denounce this Protocol with an official written notification of its intention to denounce the Agreement communicated to the Depositary. At this point, this Protocol shall cease to be in force for that Party upon the expiration of six months from the date of receipt by the Depositary of this Protocol of written notice of its intention to denounce this Protocol.

Done in Yalta on July 4, 2003, in a single original copy in the Russian language.