GUAM is a regional union of four independent states (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova). The process of creating this union began in 1997.
Despite the efforts of the GUAM member states, organized crime as well as corruption still represents serious problem both on national and international levels. Some of specific forms of the crimes hinder and delay political, economic, social and cultural development of the states, threaten basic freedoms, peace and safety. Ensuring economic prosperity and elimination of poverty as well as state and regional security are top priority which cannot be achieved without perfection of legislation through reforms and its harmonization with international standards. The steps were taken towards this goal but it is a long way to achieve it. This circumstance determines the importance of the GUAM cooperation and the US-GUAM Framework Program.
In 1997 Presidents of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova discussed issues of regional cooperation, European and regional security, and political and economic relations in the course of the joint meeting. It was emphasized by the leaders of the states the importance of cooperation in creating Eurasia Trans-Caucasus transport corridor, which is the basis of development of friendship, good neighborhood and implementation of economic opportunities.
In this context the necessity of strengthening cooperation for creation of the stable and secure Europe, where the key principles are: respect of sovereignty, territorial integrity, inviolability of the state borders, mutual respect, democracy, the law superiority and respect to the human rights.
In 2000, in New York at the 55th session of the UN General Assembly, the New York Memorandum was adopted by the Presidents of the GUAM member states. The main cooperation objective was defined as establishment of inter-field contacts and direct links among relevant agencies of the GUAM member states. The effective functioning of the transport corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia and development of its infrastructure was recognized as major priority.
In 2001, the first Annual Summit of the GUAM took place in Yalta. At this Summit the key steps were taken to strengthen and institutionalize the GUAM. The GUAM Yalta Charter defines main goals and directions of the cooperation of the GUAM member states.
November 2001, Baku hosted the meeting of the representatives of the relevant ministries and agencies from the GUAM member states to discuss issues of safe functioning of the GUAM transport corridors. At this meeting it was mentioned that to achieve that goal it is necessary to strengthen regimes of border guard and customs control and at the same time establish interaction among the national centers of the GUAM.
In 2002, the GUAM Charter, signed by the GUAM Presidents in Yalta designates the principles and guidelines of cooperation for the GUAM member states. One of the crucial points in economic development of the union was signing of the Agreement on Establishment of Free Trade Zone among the GUAM member states.
October 2002, in the course of the second session of the GUAM Working Group on combating terrorism, organized crime and distribution of drugs, the ~GUAM-US Framework Program on Trade and Transportation Facilitation, Customs and Border Guard Control, Combating Terrorism, Organized Crime and Distribution of Drugs~ were signed. The goal of the Program is more active promotion of trade, development of transportation routes and effectiveness of the activities of law enforcement agencies against the organized crime.
December 2002, the GUAM Foreign Ministers Council approved ~GUAM-US Framework Program of Trade and Transport Facilitation, Customs and Border Guard Control, Combating Terrorism, Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking~.
The GUAM-US Framework Program includes:
- Creation of the GUAM Virtual Law Enforcement Center;
- Creation of joint information system for exchange of the data related to the counterterrorist activities;
- Enhancement of cooperation and relationship in the field of border guard and customs control of the GUAM countries.
July 2003, during the Yalta Summit of the GUAM presidents a number of documents were signed which laid foundation for further development of cooperation to ensure effective and safe functioning of the GUAM transport corridor. One of the most important documents was the Memorandum of Understanding among the GUAM Member States on Trade and Transportation Facilitation. This international document is the basis for preparation and implementation of the GUAM Trade and Transportation Facilitation Project (TTEP).
December 2003, two expert groups were established by the GUAM member states and sponsored by the US Government. One of them developed the strategy of the Virtual Law Enforcement Center in Baku and the other was responsible for improvement of Trade and Transport Facilitation Project. The both groups were assisted by the USA and SECI Center advisers. As a result of the joint effort, the concept of the future cooperation of the GUAM was formulated intending to implement Action Plan.
In 2004, the meeting in Istanbul and certain modifications of draft projects encouraged the implementation of the beginning stage of the project. The main project elements are:
- Trade and Transportation Facilitation Project (TTFP) coordinated by Ukraine;
- Virtual Law Enforcement Center (VLEC) and safe (encrypted) information-communication network connected with the Center coordinated by Azerbaijan;
- Establishment of a GUAM Information Office in Ukraine;
- Creation of an Inter-Parliamentary Group with the purpose of legal harmonization.
2005 Chisinau Summit confirmed the importance of the GUAM cooperation and demanded practical implementation of the projects. The US delegation approved the government commitment to further assistance and the foundation of the Euro-Atlantic Advisory Team (EAAT) being agreed within the US-GUAM Framework Program.
It should be mentioned that in 2006 the GUAM Presidents signed the Charter. According to this Charter, the union - GUAM was changed into International Regional Organization - "Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM" and became subject of international law. In line with the new Charter, organizational structure of the GUAM is as follows.
On May 18-19, 2007 meeting of branch working groups was held in Baku within the frames of the GUAM next Summit. Special importance of branch cooperation was once more again focused at the meeting and a final version of branch cooperation strategy was agreed; the strategy was later approved by the Heads of the countries.
The part of the strategy concerning the law enforcement block focused on the issues of perfection and harmonization of legislation, elaboration of projects for perfection of cooperation as well as development of analytical spectrum of cooperation.
The strategy also attached the issue of development of cooperation with other regional organizations in the sphere of combat trans-border crimes, in particular: the UN counter terrorist Committee, OSCE, Interpol, Europol, SECI and etc.
Within the frames of the third summit of the GUAM, which was held on July 1, 2008 in Batumi, the Board of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the GUAM adopted projects for the GUAM-USA international technical assistance concerning the issues of drug distribution, human trafficking and illegal migration as well as the GUAM interstate informational analytical systems modernization. Chairmanship of the GUAM from Azerbaijan party was delivered to Georgia for one year at the plenary session of the summit. It should be mentioned that on the 11-th meeting of the working groups in charge for combat terrorism, organized crimes, illegal distribution of drugs and other dangerous crimes of the GUAM on March 3-4, 2009 in the secretariat of the GUAM Georgia received chairmanship of the working groups above in 2009-2010 from the party of Moldova.
Following documents were agreed, approved and signed at different level meetings held within the frames of the summit: 1. Batumi Summit declaration; 2. Batumi Summit Communiqu; 3. application by the GUAM states heads for development of the GUAM transport corridor; 4. report of chairmanship of Azerbaijan party in the GUAM; 5. program for Georgian chairmanship in the GUAM; 6. joint applications of meetings duly held among the GUAM and partner countries (the USA, Japan, Poland, Czech); 7. Memorandum of Understanding between the GUAM and Vehicle Transport International Union; also several decisions concerning functioning of the GUAM and its development.
Meeting of branch working groups on the issues of cooperation in the sphere of security and police power in the region was also held within the frames of the summit. The meeting was participated by the Ministers and the heads of Internal Affairs, Security, Emergency Situations, Prosecutors' General, Border and Custom agencies. The meeting discussed the issue of branch cooperation strategy and mentioned that attempts by law enforcement and other competitive agencies should be concentrated for maintenance of security of transport corridor of the GUAM.