Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.23
By Anakhanum Hidayatova - Trend:
The mandate of the GUAM Secretary General Valeri Chechelashvili expires in 2015.
"A career diplomat from Azerbaijan - a dignified and serious person enjoying great respect and influence not only in the homeland, but also in the region - will be the new secretary general of GUAM," Chechelashvili told Trend on Jan.23.
The name of the diplomat was not revealed.
Chechelashvili said he will return to Georgia, most likely, to the Foreign Ministry, however, it hasn't been approved yet.
The GUAM format was established by post-Soviet countries in 1997 at the meeting of the heads of states of the European Union in Strasburg. Uzbekistan joined this format in 1999, but left after four years.
During the first summit of this format in Kiev in 2006, a decision was adopted declaring GUAM an international organization and about its new name, the 'Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM'.
Edited by SI