2017-03-27
It is only through unified efforts that we will be able to empower not only GUAM but our states as well-we must realize what we want to achieve together with the help of the existing format, because success lies primarily in our consistent and coordinated cooperation, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili stated in his speech at the GUAM Meeting of Heads of State.
The Head of Georgian Government thanked his Ukrainian counterpart for hospitality and expressed hope that the meeting would encourage stronger political and sectoral cooperation within the organization.
According to the Prime Minister, it is no coincidence that "Together for a Strong GUAM" has been selected as the slogan of Georgia's chairmanship, because today, more than ever, to achieve its goals, the organization needs to ensure the political consolidation of its member states.
"Today's global and regional challenges obligate us to cement our interactions within GUAM and in the international arena. Territorial integrity remains one of the most painful problems and a common challenge facing the GUAM member states. The unsolved conflicts in the GUAM region impede our countries' political, economic, and social development. The voice of GUAM in this regard must be as loud as possible. Importantly, we must be more active in using GUAM's potential for attracting international support and adequate reaction to violations of the territorial integrity of the organization's member states," Giorgi Kvirikashvili said.
According to the Prime Minister, Georgia, as the chair state, believes that the successful development of sectoral cooperation will strengthen political interaction and contribute to reaching the joint or individual economic objectives of the member states.
"Over the past 20 years, we have accumulated vast experience in implementing mutually beneficial joint projects within GUAM in such fields as trade, economy, transport, tourism, law enforcement and cyber security. Today we have vast opportunities, and necessary institutional potential in place, to strengthen our trade and economic ties, deepen economic integration not only between the GUAM member states, but also with those interested in partnership. Initiatives and suggestion for activating sectoral cooperation must be generated in the sectoral ministries. It is important to hold regular meetings of every working body within the organization. In addition, it requires maximal support from us, strong political will, and a concrete political impetus for deepening GUAM's regional cooperation and for ensuring our nations' prosperity," the Prime Minister stated.
According to Giorgi Kvirikashvili, the Government of Georgia welcomes the signing of documents on improving the functioning of the GUAM Free Trade Area and on enhancing the competitiveness of the GUAM Transport Corridor.
"Despite these achievements, the issue of the country of origin of products has yet to be agreed between the organization's member states. Georgia, as the country in charge of coordinating the alignment of relevant legislations on the GUAM Free Trade Area over the past few years, urges every country to show constructiveness and make the final political decision to sign said document as soon as possible. The geographic locations of our countries enables us to increase the competitiveness of the GUAM transport corridor. In this context, we must pay special attention to multiplying our joint efforts to implement the concept of the GUAM Transport Corridor. I am convinced that achieving this goal will have a positive impact on the further development and reforms of our economies, ultimately to bring tangible results to our entrepreneurs and societies as a whole," Giorgi Kvirikashvili said.
The Prime Minister commended the organization of the inaugural business forum poised to promote closer ties between entrepreneurial communities and private companies. According to him, holding forums like this on a regular basis will promote the development and implementation of mutually beneficial projects.
"As Chairperson, I must emphasize the special importance of active interactions with GUAM's partners (the US, Japan) and the development of new GUAM+ formats for countries and international organizations interested in cooperation. Special attention must be paid to the development and feasibility studies of specific initiatives and bilateral joint projects.
Over the past 20 years, our countries have developed close and strong cooperation based on partnership and mutual respect. It is only through consolidated effort that this organization will become stronger and our countries more prosperous. 2017 is a special year for both GUAM and Georgia within the context of its chairmanship. To achieve the goals described by me earlier, we count on your support based on the principles that served as the foundation of this format in the first place.
Georgia reaffirms its commitment to GUAM and continuing active support for strengthening and enhancing our cooperation," the Prime Minister of Georgia said his speech at the meeting.
After the meeting, the participating countries signed documents: On the Approval of Establishment of the Working Body for Coordinating the Actions of the Signatory Parties to the July 20, 2002 Agreement on the Establishment of the Free Trade Area and on the Development of the Terms of Reference for the Coordinating Body, and the Agreement between the Customs Administrations of the GUAM Member States on the Mutual Recognition of Individual Results of Customs Control over the Movement of Goods and Transport across the Borders of the GUAM Member States. On behalf of Georgia, the documents were signed by Gennady Arveladze (Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development) and Vakhtang Lashkaradze (Deputy Director General of the Revenue Service).
Prime Minister's Press Office