Georgia’s PM at GUAM meeting
By Tea Mariamidze
Tuesday, March 28
“Territorial integrity is one of the most painful problems and challenges for GUAM member countries,” Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili stated at the meeting of the heads of the governments of the GUAM countries in Kiev, Ukraine, on March 27.
The Georgian PM stressed that unresolved conflicts in the GUAM region continue to impede political, economic and social development.
“In this regard, the GUAM voice should sound as loud as possible. All of us should more actively use the GUAM potential for gaining wider international support,” he added.
While delivering his speech, Kvirikashvili called for stronger coordination between the GUAM member post-Soviet countries of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova.
“We can strengthen GUAM and our countries by our joint efforts; we should clearly realize what we want to achieve together, because success, first of all, depends on our consistent and coordinated cooperation,” he said.
The Georgian PM thanked his Ukrainian counterpart for hosting the event and expressed hope that the meeting would enhance political and private sector cooperation among the GUAM member states.
Moreover, Kvirikashvili emphasized that Georgia, as the Chair country of GUAM, believes that the development cooperation will strengthen political interaction among the member states and will help to achieve joint or individual economic interests of the member states.
“Today there is a wide range of possibilities opened up to expand trade and economic ties, to deepen economic integration, not only among the GUAM member states, but also with the other interested countries,” he said.
Kvirikashvili welcomed the signing of the documents, which are aimed at improving the functioning GUAM Free Trade Zone and enhancing the competiveness of the GUAM Transport Corridor.
“Georgia reaffirms its commitment to GUAM and expresses readiness to continue its active support to strengthening and deepening of our co-operation," he said.
After the political discussions, the leaders of the four countries attended a business forum organized by the Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Kvirikashvili also held bilateral meetings as well, and meet with the Ukrainian and Moldovan Prime Ministers.
