ORGANIZATION FOR DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - GUAM Nurlan ALIYEV Hikmat HAJIYEV (ChairmanoftheEditorialCouncil) StrategicStudiesoftheMinistryForeign DirectoroftheDepartmentfor Analysis and Huseyn HUSEYNOV Fariz RZAYEV Ramiz HASANOV Hafiz PASHAYEV Mahmud MAMMAD-GULIYEV Presidential Administration oftheRepublic HeadoftheDepartmentForeignPolicy Ministry ofForeign Affairs, Sh.GurbanovStr. 50, AZ1009 Postal address: Analysis andStrategic StudiesDepartment, MinisterofForeign Affairs Deputy Minister ofForeign Deputy Minister Affairs ofForeign DeputyMinister Affairs “World of Diplomacy”journalispublishedsince2002. DİPLOMATİYA ALƏMİ The viewsandopinionsexpressedarethoseofthe JOURNAL OF THE MINISTRY OFFOREIGN AFFAIRS Tel.: 596-91-31;e-mail:[email protected]

DeputyMinisterofForeign Affairs the officialpolicyorpositionof MFA Registration №1161, 14January2005 authors anddonotnecessarilyreflect OF THE REPUBLICOF AZERBAIJAN EDITORIAL COUNCIL Departmentfor Analysis andStrategicStudies Deputy MinisterofForeign Affairs Deputy MinisterofForeign Affairs DeputyMinisterofForeign Affairs EDITORIAL BOARD WORLD OFDIPLOMACY @ All rightsreserved. ISSN: 1818-4898 Affairs oftheRepublic Azerbaijan Assistant tothePresidentofRepu №55,2020 blic of Azerbaijan, Affairs ofthe 92 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

ORGANIZATION FOR DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - GUAM O The timeandvenueofthenextGUAM-Japanmeeting willbeagreedthroughdiplomaticchannels. on both including dialogue, GUAM-Japan cooperationandawiderangeofregional andglobalissues. high-level maintain to readiness and interest the reconfirmed sides The conducting theseevents. in Japan. member statesexpressedtheirappreciation The GUAM to Japan’s supportinpreparingand and Georgia onMay-June,2019. The twosidesdecided to organize the Workshop oncustomsnextyear 23, 2019, and the first phase of the press tour for the Japanese mass-media in the territories of Azerbaijan The sidestooknoteoftheoutcome Workshop onInvestmentPromotionheldinJapanMarch17- situations, tourism,transport,culture,agriculture,medicalcareandenvironment. andJapaninareasofmutualinterest,suchastradeinvestments,energy,between GUAM emergency Program” that provides a solid ground fordeveloping new projects in order to fostering cooperation The twosidesexpressedtheirstrongintention for theimplementation of the“GUAM-JapanCooperation commitment torespecttheuniversalvaluessuchasruleoflaw, democracy, andhumanrights. peace, security, prosperityandstability on bothregional andinterregional levels andrecalled their The two sidesemphasized the importance of the GUAM-Japan cooperation, which aimsat ensuring borders oftheStates. a basis of respect to the sovereignty, on territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized area GUAM the in conflicts the of settlement earliest at aimed efforts international of of importance andprinciples norms recognized the universally to international law, includingthoseenshrinedintheCharterofUnitedNations,andunderlined adherence their reconfirmed sides two The Foreign Affairs ofJapan. The JapanesesidewasrepresentedbyH.E.Mr. Nakatani Shinichi,Parliamentary Vice-Minister for in capacityofGUAMChairman-in-officeandH.E. Mr. Efendiev Altai,GUAMSecretaryGeneral. The GUAM side was represented by: H.E. Mr. Prystaiko Vadym, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Joint Press ReleaseonthesidelinesofOSCECouncilMinisters and JapanwereheldonthesidelinesofOSCECouncilMinisters. n December 5,2019,inBratislava,thehigh-levelmeetings oftherepresentatives of GUAM 5 December2019,Bratislava GUAM –Japan C forums. end, itintendstoencourage joint participation in the important international transport andlogistics and otherstakeholderstosupport theimplementation of theGUAM Transport Corridorproject. To this The Chairmanship will continue tofacilitate the partner countries, aswelltheEuropean Union, China GUAM Transport Corridorisimportant. the of digitalization regard this In field. this in services other and public of provision the accelerate and efficiency transport improve to help will logistics and transport in technologies digital of use flow, the Considering thecloselinkbetweentransportcorridors withthecross-bordertradeandinformation GUAM Transport Corridorandattractionofthenewpartners. of Transport and Working Group on Transport in Baku with particular attention to the promotion of the In thisregard, the Azerbaijani side during its Chairmanship will host the meetings of the GUAM Ministers be establishedifrequired. together withtheinternational partnersandprivatesector. Contactswithlogistical companies willalso Member States to identify concrete fields for developing regional projects and their joint implementation Completion andadoptionofthefeasibility study oftheGUAM Transport Corridorwillenablethe necessary. The Chairmanship willcoordinatethesediscussionsinBrussels. are Commission European the with discussions the at States Member the by efforts stronger regard, this to facilitate the completion and approvalofthefeasibility study oftheGUAM Transport Corridor. In As instructed Heads ofGovernmentsattheir Summit by theGUAM in 2018, theChairmanship plans Transport Corridorproject. this context the Chairmanship plans to take the concrete actions for the implementation of the GUAM for developing alternative routes connecting Europe and Asia isalsomatter of highimportance. In Closer collaboration with the counterpart countries, international organizations and other related parties project. Corridor GUAM Transport the realize to efforts the consolidate to crucial is it States, Member the GUAM regionforstrengthening and diversifying the economic cooperation between the GUAM of potential transit and transport the harness to significance the Considering Eurasia. in scene transport an important and integral The ChairmanshipconsidersessentialtomakeGUAM part oftheforming also Thepriority itspriority. as includes relatedsub-sectorsbeing Trade andCustoms. Connectivity of Transport sphere the defined has Chairmanship The be giventothegoal-orientedprojectsandinitiatives. humanitarian, scientific, inter-parliamentary and consular issues within the organization. Preference will cooperation between theMemberStates.Chairmanshipwillalsopayimportance to political, Democracyand for in theOrganization Economic in theyearof2020willfocusonmatterseconomic Development – GUAM ofAzerbaijan the Republic of Office in hairmanship PRIORITIES OF AZERBAIJANI PRIORITIES CHAIRMANSHIP IN2020 Priorities oftheChairmanship Transport connectivity PRIORITIES OF AZERBAIJANI CHAIRMANSHIP IN2020 93 94 PRIORITIES OF AZERBAIJANI CHAIRMANSHIP IN2020

ORGANIZATION FOR DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - GUAM held inBakuonJune2-4,2020. Ministers ofEnergy withinthe27 meeting of the Working Group,theChairmanship will encourage to holdthemeeting of the GUAM coordinator of the GUAM Working Group onEnergy. Inthisregard, depending on the outcomes of the Member States. among theGUAM will alsobecarried out incapacity This workofthe country- The Chairmanship intends to support the development of cooperation, focusing on new energy initiatives increase thegeostrategicimportanceofregionand GUAM. this areacanincrease the importance of theregioninformation of Europe’s energy security, thuswill development of energy cooperation among the GUAM Member States. Joint initiatives and projects in one oftheleadingenergyAs countriesintheregion, Azerbaijan attaches greatimportance to the work todeveloptheagendastrengthencooperationonthem: Meanwhile, areas listed below arealsodetermined as important directions and theChairmanship will procedures withinGUAM. technologies andinnovative methods forsimplifying andimprovingthequalitysafetyofcustoms a and officers customs of meeting a regional forumwiththe World CustomsOrganization facilitating in ordertoobtainandapplyadvanceddigital be will also Chairmanship the goal, this achieve To effective andresult-orientedinteractionbetweenthecustomsservicesofGUAMMemberStates. to strengthen issues bycustomsservicesplaysanimportant role. Inthisregard,theChairmanshipproposes Since thedevelopment of transportcorridorscanfacilitate the trade, discussion ofthetrade promotion Trade and Working Bodyfortherealizationof Agreement onFree Trade Area. and Economy on Group GUAM Working the of function efficient the promote also will Chairmanship intends toraisetheexcellenceofthisdocumentbyimprovingitsquality. of origin ofcommodities”, which shallconstitute an inalienable part ofthis country Agreement. The Chairmanship of definition of rules on “Protocol the sign and upon agree to States Member the of efforts MemberStatesisveryimportant. For thisreason,theChairmanship between GUAM will encouragethe at the GUAM Summits, the implementation of the Agreement on Establishment of the Free Trade Area transformation of GUAMinto an economic-trade organization in Eurasia region. In thisregard, as stated The economic-trade potential existing in GUAMregion is underusedandthisfact makes essential the • Youth andeducation. • Emergency situations; • Parliamentarydimension; • Politicalcontacts; • Tourism; • Smallandmediumenterprises; • Energy; Other importantfieldsofcooperation th Cooperation inCustomssphere International Caspian OilandGasExhibition and Conferencetobe Trade stimulation Energy OSCE etc., to the issues of joint interest, particularly protection of the territorial integrity within the within integrity territorial internationally recognized borders andsovereignty.the of ofEurope, protection particularly interest, theCouncil joint of of issues the to support etc., increasing OSCE for efforts the coordinate also will Chairmanship The peace, for international theirimplications security anddevelopment”. and area GUAM the in conflicts “Protracted draft on the resolution promoting towards efforts make will Chairmanship The GUAM”. – Cooperation Economic resolution entitled “Cooperation betweentheUnited NationsandtheOrganization for Democracyand The Chairmanship will coordinate the efforts aimed at drafting and submitting the UN General Assembly Parliamentary GUAM Assembly, Coordinators, as well as National coordinate the cooperation through of the relevant high diplomatic missions. Council organizing Affairs, Foreign of by Ministers dialogue of Council political of meetings the level strengthening for actions take to plans Chairmanship The visits toGUAMcountriesisalsoplannedattheproposedmeeting. and Ukraine-Moldova scheme for representatives of Japan, China and other countries in order to expand of theMember States. Discussion ofthe info-tours andpress-toursaccording to the Azerbaijan-Georgia a consultation meeting with theparticipation of representatives of government agencies and organizations Member Statesandinitiate will facilitate the discussionsondevelopingajointtravelproductforGUAM technologies and toincrease the quality and standardsintourismindustry. To thisend,theChairmanship development of theinternational cooperation in ordertolearn andapplyadvancedexperience and modern procedures and increase the touristic attractiveness of the region. Chairmanship will stimulate the Chairmanship will try to strengthen cooperation among the countries to stimulate tourism, simplify developing small andmedium enterprises, andincreasing the GUAM’s popularity as atouristdestination. great potential for regional and international cooperation with theaim of diversifying national economies, Tourism, asoneofthedynamically developing Member States’sectors oftheGUAM economies, has and abusinessforumdedicatedtothis. in Azerbaijan meeting a and such holding of States possibilities the explore of will Chairmanship the Heads Governments, of meetings regular hold to States Member GUAM of initiative the Supporting private the of representatives the together sectors ofallMemberStatesandcarryoutanactiveworkfortheirinterests. bring to able be should structure or mechanism relevant The collaboration. daily promote and elements practical and flexible incorporate will that platform a or Commerce of Chamber the Business Council. of Inactive structures or subagencies should be mechanism abolished, and instead should be created working the revise to important is it purpose, this For representing their interests, as well as the GUAM Secretariat within the interests of the Member States. institutions and communities business the of efforts the support will Chairmanship the regard, this In private partnershipsareimportantintheimplementationkeytransportandtradeinitiativesofGUAM. cooperation. In this context, the active GUAM participation of trade the private and of sector economic and the strengthen establishment to of communities public- measures of implementation business the with connection among in States Member cooperation promote to continue will Chairmanship The Strengthening thecooperationinfieldofsmallandmediumenterprises Political Dimension Tourism PRIORITIES OF AZERBAIJANI CHAIRMANSHIP IN2020 95 96 PRIORITIES OF AZERBAIJANI CHAIRMANSHIP IN2020

ORGANIZATION FOR DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - GUAM the effectivenessoftheseinitiatives andtheachievementofspecificoutcomes. the encourage will Chairmanship the on be will focus the above, context, this In cooperation. of areas other mentioned in initiatives existing of implementation cooperation of areas key the to addition In The Chairmanshipwill: youth andeducation. of field the in activities and initiatives agreed all of implementation the support will Chairmanship The deepening thecooperationinthisfield. Foreign Ministries of GUAM in Baku in July 2019, the the Chairmanship under will institutes encourage further and widening academies and diplomatic the of meeting first the of results the account Takinginto Chairmanship willencouragecooperationaimedinimprovingefficiencythisarea. G in Azerbaijan. emergency cataclysms, and the growing the interest in cooperation in this area, between the Chairmanship may consider hosting cooperation events of deepening and agencies. Given the existing contacts of the GUAM Member development States on the fight against natural and man-made the support will chairmanship The a committeemeetinginBaku. the with accordance existing practice, the Chairmanship plans to host the session of the GUAM Parliamentary In Assembly and organizations. international the within States Member GUAM of delegations and relevant parliamentary committees. The Chairmanship will also promote interaction of parliamentary the improving for actions effectiveness take of this will cooperation, and especiallyAssembly, the Parliamentary coordination and GUAM interaction of the sectoral within cooperation bodies States Member GUAM the of inter-parliamentarycooperation of development the promote also will Chairmanship The iven the dynamics of law-enforcement cooperation in the fight against organized crime and terrorism, the sharing thegoalsandprinciplesofGUAM. cooperation international of stakeholders all organizationsand international partners, GUAM expansion both with results concrete at aimed and development the support organizations, regional and international with documents cooperation other or understanding of memorandums the of terms In - convention onmutualrenderingofassistanceinconsular matters; on work the finalizing and issues consular in dialogue the - Takestrengthening for actions necessary speed upthejointdevelopmentofStrategicCommunication; Foreign of will Ministers 08.10.2017, of Council on the Affairs of recommendation the with line In - Chairmanship Vision Paper; the of adoption and agreement through strategy partnership the of development the to Contribute - Cooperation intheareasof Youth andEducation Adoption oftheDocuments Parliamentary dimension Emergency situations T There are number of questions on to what extent the framework and its structures were adequate and per in environment geopolitical external which itoperated. its and structures and framework its Organization, the between the third parties, was defined by the dynamics of the developments on the ground, and by the correlation To a large extent development of cooperation in the framework of GUAM, as well as its engagement with global connectivityarchitectureopeningupenormousopportunitiesforregionalcooperation. emerging new the of part integral important an becoming also is geography GUAM hand, other the On fragile andvulnerableGUAMMStheOrganization aswholecanbe. how and operates, GUAM which in environment external the volatile and hostile how of indication an stability.and security international peace, to threats of development, source and cooperation also is This to impediment major be to continuing are world the in conflicts dangerous most the as conflicts These behind. left IDPs and refugees of millions and lives lost of thousands integrity,of territorial dozens and and conflicts sovereignty of their of violations flagrant in resulted (MS) states member GUAM of territories the on wars number Growing tensions. geopolitical growing and serious most of epicenter the at be to appeared geography GUAM metropolis, former the of periphery the in players global and gional re- local, of interests of collision subsequent and USSR the of dissolution the following hand, one On development and appeared tobeverylittle,ifnoticeableatall. cooperation stability, regional the to GUAM Under of expectations. contribution these the to circumstances, up the deliver to inability for criticism and disappointments some to stage, initial the at expectations high and hopes raising from – evolution its in phases different through went cooperation. security,peace, of zone the as space geographic this and of stability shaping the to contribute to capable player regional important and efficient into GUAM transforming towards quo status current the rectify to community international and partners their states, and, member the by GUAM; undertaken be should finally, of what framework the in activities the of outcomes the and cooperation the affected aspects to the tasks in front of the Organization and the challenges facing the region; how both above-mentioned tinent to its environment; to what degree the collective policy responses were relevant and corresponding * Introduction Amb. Altai Efendiev* Ambassador Altai Efendiev, GUAMSecretary General as a collective response to address regional security and development challenges, the initiative the challenges, development and security regional address to response collective a as 1997 in Created decade. third its entered has recently (GUAM) Ukraine and Moldova Georgia, Azerbaijan, of comprised GUAM, - Development Economic & Democracy for Organization he Challenges andOpportunitiesfor RegionalCooperation GUAM inEvolvingGeopoliticalContext: ARTICLES - ARTICLES 97