Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 20 / Trend M. Aliyev /
The GUAM Parliamentary Assembly (PA) is concerned about the lack of progress in resolving protracted conflicts in its area.
"GUAM PA expresses its extreme concern about the lack of progress in resolving the protracted conflicts in the GUAM area including preserving the current state of these conflicts, a communique made following the fifth session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova) said today. "This is a threat not only to GUAM member states, but for Europe."
The Parliamentary Assembly welcomed recent intensifying and expanding the international organisation's activity and also stressed the importance of further strengthening mutually beneficial relations with the Baltic Assembly, Benelux Parliament and other international and regional inter-parliamentary organisations.
The Assembly also spoke in favour of the need to intensify GUAM's activity as an effective mechanism to promote the common foreign policy priorities of GUAM member states.
The Parliamentary Assembly appreciated Azerbaijan's contribution to European energy security and supporting energy projects in GUAM member states.
The forum participants appreciated the role of regional and international parliamentary organisations in the development of inter-regional cooperation. They stressed the importance of an effective partnership dialogue and cooperation between GUAM PA and other regional parliamentary organisations as an effective mechanism to develop this cooperation.
The sides stressed the important role of GUAM PA in strengthening democracy, observing the rule of law, fundamental human rights and freedoms and the economic development of countries and ensuring security and stability in the region. The participants also reaffirmed the need to strengthen cooperation within the Parliamentary Assembly for the sustainable development of the GUAM countries through dynamic economic growth and social cohesion.
'The Parliamentary Assembly expresses support for intensifying the development of closer relations with the EU, including within the Eastern Partnership programme, taking into account the individual characteristics and aspirations of each GUAM member state', a communique said.