View source for GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development

{{short description|Regional organization of four post-Soviet states: Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova}}
{{redirect|GUAM|the United States overseas territory|Guam}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox Geopolitical organization
| conventional_long_name = GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development
| native_name            = {{unbulleted list |{{lang-ka|დემოკრატიისა და ეკონომიკური განვითარების  ორგანიზაცია სუამი|tr}} |{{langx|uk|ГУАМ Організація за демократію та економічний розвиток|HUAM Orhanizatsiia za demokratiiu ta ekonomichnyi rozvytok}} |{{langx|az|GUAM Demokratiya və İqtisadi İnkişaf naminə Təşkilat}} |{{langx|ro|GUAM Organizația pentru Democrație și Dezvoltare Economică}} }}
| linking_name           = GUAM
| symbol_type            = Logo
| image_symbol           = GUAM logo.png
| symbol_width           = 150px
| image_map              = GUAM member states.png
| map_width              = 250px
| map_caption            = GUAM members in blue; former member in red
| membership_type        = Member states
| membership             = {{unbulleted list |[[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] |[[Ukraine]] |[[Azerbaijan]] |[[Moldova]]}}
| admin_center_type      = Headquarters
| admin_center           = {{nowrap|[[Kyiv]], [[Ukraine]]}}
| languages_type         = Official language
| languages              = Russian (1997−2014)<br>English (2014−)
| established_event1     = GUAM consultative forum
| established_date1      = 10 October 1997
| established_event2     = Uzbekistan membership, GUUAM established
| established_date2      = 1999
| established_event3     = Charter signed
| established_date3      = June 2001
| established_event4     = Uzbekistan withdrew, GUAM reestablished
| established_date4      = May 2005
| area_km2               = 810,506
| area_sq_mi             = 312,938
| area_label             = Total
| population_estimate    = {{decrease}} 49,842,000<ref name="IMFWEORU">{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/October/weo-report?c=911,912,921,926,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,&sy=2020&ey=2022&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=subject&ds=.&br=1|title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects: October 2022|website=[[International Monetary Fund]]|access-date=7 December 2022|archive-date=7 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207145126/https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/October/weo-report?c=911,912,921,926,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,&sy=2020&ey=2022&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=subject&ds=.&br=1|url-status=live}}</ref>
| population_estimate_year = 2020
| population_density_km2 = 71.5
| GDP_nominal            = {{decrease}} $311&nbsp;billion<ref name="IMFWEORU"/>
| GDP_nominal_year       = 2024
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{decrease}} $6,240
| GDP_PPP                = {{decrease}} $993.78 &nbsp;billion<ref name="IMFWEORU"/>
| GDP_PPP_year           = 2024
| GDP_PPP_per_capita     = {{decrease}} $19,939
| official_website       = {{official URL}}
| demonym                =
| area_rank              =
| HDI                    =
| HDI_year               =
| today                  =
}}

The '''GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development''' is a regional organization of four [[post-Soviet states]]: [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Ukraine]], [[Azerbaijan]], and [[Moldova]].

Conceived in 1997 to harmonize and integrate commercial, diplomatic and democratic relations among its member states, the GUAM treaty charter was signed in 2001 and today covers a population of over 49.8 million people. [[Uzbekistan]] was also a member of GUAM in the 1999–2005 period. In 2003, GUAM became an observer in the [[United Nations General Assembly|UN General Assembly]]. In 2007, GUAM also established a military [[peacekeeping]] force and organized joint military exercises. Such increasingly deepened integration and relationships led to GUAM playing an important role in the region's diplomatic and commercial affairs.

The agreement on a Free Trade Area was signed in 2002. In 2017, additional agreements on a [[free-trade area]] were announced, but as of 2022 reportedly the FTA has not been ratified and has not entered into force.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/guam-2-0-can-free-trade-revive-the-forgotten-regional-bloc/ | title=GUAM 2.0: Can Free Trade Revive the Forgotten Regional Bloc? | date=3 October 2022 }}</ref> The WTO was notified only in 2017 and the Agreement is designated as "Plurilateral" and "In Force". According to the WTO database, the GUAM FTA agreement was signed in 2002 and entered into force in 2003.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://rtais.wto.org/UI/PublicShowMemberRTAIDCard.aspx?rtaid=620 | title=WTO &#124; Regional trade agreements }}</ref> [[International Trade Centre]] says there is no free trade area in operation with distinct rules from an [[Commonwealth of Independent States Agreement on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area|Agreement on Creation of CIS Free Trade Area]], was signed on 15 April 1994 by 12 CIS countries.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.macmap.org/en/resources/cis | title=Market Access Map }}</ref>

The database of agreements of the International Trade Centre does not indicate that a GUAM FTA agreement has been concluded, but it does indicate that the 1994 Agreement on CIS FTA is in force for Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.macmap.org/en/query/trade-agreement?reporter=268&relation=I&partner=all | title=Market Access Map }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.macmap.org/en/query/trade-agreement?reporter=804&relation=I&partner=all | title=Market Access Map }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.macmap.org/en/query/trade-agreement?reporter=031&relation=I&partner=all | title=Market Access Map }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.macmap.org/en/query/trade-agreement?reporter=498&relation=I&partner=all | title=Market Access Map }}</ref> and the 1999 Agreement on CIS FTA version is listed as the current text of the FTA agreement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA, BELARUS, GEORGIA, MOLDOVA, KAZAKHSTAN, THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, UKRAINE, UZBEKISTAN, TAJIKISTAN AND THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC |url=https://findrulesoforigin.org/documents/pdf/itc00659_full.pdf |access-date=1 April 2024 |website=findrulesoforigin.org}}</ref>

The official negotiating language of GUAM was Russian, but it was scrapped in favor of English in 2014.

[[Election monitoring]] by GUAM has been described as "low-quality", as observers from the group validate flawed elections.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bush |first1=Sarah Sunn |last2=Cottiero |first2=Christina |last3=Prather |first3=Lauren |date=2024 |title=Zombies ahead: Explaining the rise of low-quality election monitoring |journal=The Review of International Organizations |language=en |doi=10.1007/s11558-024-09554-3 |issn=1559-744X|doi-access=free }}</ref>

==History==
===Origins and foundation, Uzbek membership (1997–2005)===
[[File:GUAM Summit 2006.jpg|left|thumb|200px|70-kopeck [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] postage stamp commemorating the GUAM Summit held in [[Kyiv]], 22&ndash;23 May 2006.]]

Cooperation between Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova started with the "GUAM consultative forum", established on 10 October 1997, in [[Strasbourg]] and named after the initial letters of each of those countries. In 1999, the organisation adopted the name '''GUUAM''' due to the membership of [[Uzbekistan]]. A summit in [[Yalta]] on 6 and 7 June 2001 was accompanied by the signing of GUUAM's charter, which formalized the organization. According to the former Ukrainian President [[Viktor Yushchenko]], the charter set objectives for cooperation, such as promoting democratic values, ensuring stable development, enhancing international and regional security, and stepping up [[European integration]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://today.az/news/politics/26446.html |title=Russian Deputy FM: "GUAM not anti-Russian group" |date=23 May 2006 |work=Today.az |access-date=18 April 2007 |archive-date=29 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929105003/http://today.az/news/politics/26446.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2002, Uzbekistan announced that it planned to withdraw from the organization and following this announcement started to ignore GUUAM summits and meetings.<ref>{{cite web|website=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]]|date=18 June 2002|access-date=13 November 2020|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1100023.html|title=Uzbekistan: Tashkent Withdraws From GUUAM, Remaining Members Forge Ahead|archive-date=13 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113180237/https://www.rferl.org/a/1100023.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2005, shortly after the [[Andijan massacre]], Uzbekistan finally gave official notice of withdrawal from the organization to the Moldovan presidency, thus changing the group's name back to GUAM.

A summit of GUUAM took place in [[Chișinău]], Moldova, on 22 April 2005. The [[US Department of State]] special representative for [[Eurasia]]n conflicts, Steven Mann, and the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]] Secretary General, [[Ján Kubiš]], participated in the summit. The Russian ambassador in Chișinău criticized the fact that Russia was not invited to attend.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1964793 |title=Itar-Tass article |work=[[Itar-Tass]] |access-date=18 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930204942/http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1964793 |archive-date=30 September 2007  }}</ref> [[Ilham Aliyev]], the president of Azerbaijan, said after the summit: "Our organization is emerging as a powerful force, participating in resolving problems in the [[Caspian Sea|Caspian]]—[[Black Sea]] region" while the president of Ukraine, [[Viktor Yushchenko]], said that a new page had been written in the history of the organization.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=9677 |title=GUAM Leaders Hail Chişinău Summit |date=22 April 2005 |work=Civil Georgia |access-date=18 April 2007 |archive-date=8 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008123307/http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=9677 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Deepening of relations and integration (2006–2013)===
Given the growth of its influence in the region, and the existence of the Russian—led [[Commonwealth of Independent States]] (CIS), GUAM was seen in Russia as a way of countering the Russian influence in the area and as part of a strategy backed by the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?id=-5141 |title=Axis of Evil Shaping Against Moscow |date=3 March 2005 |work=[[Kommersant]] |access-date=18 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520122050/http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?id=-5141 |archive-date=20 May 2014  }}</ref> However, GUAM leaders repeatedly and officially dismiss such claims and declare their strong willingness to develop close friendly relations with Russia.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}} Moreover, Azerbaijan, the group's main energy power, has managed to avoid any conflicts with Russia in recent years.

In April 2006, three GUAM nations supported Ukraine's proposal to condemn the [[Holodomor]], the 1930s famine in Ukraine which killed millions of people, as a [[genocide]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2371016 |title= CIS Split at Ministerial Conference |date=25 April 2006 |work=Eurasia Daily Monitor |access-date=18 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070417002350/http://www.jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2371016 <!--Bot retrieved archive--> |archive-date=17 April 2007}}</ref>

In May 2006, Ukraine and Azerbaijan announced plans to further increase the GUAM member relations by renaming the organization ''GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development'' and establishing its headquarters in the Ukrainian capital.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.azi.md/news?ID=39318 |title=Foreign Ministers of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova Discussed the Upcoming Guam Summit |date=19 May 2006 |work=InfoMarket |publisher=Moldova Azi |access-date=18 April 2007 |archive-date=3 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203110821/http://www.azi.md/news?ID=39318 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The other members said this was a remarkable step and development. The summit participants were also expected to adopt GUAM by—laws, a declaration and a communique. Also in May 2006 the Ukrainian Defense Ministry announced plans to establish GUAM [[peacekeeping]] forces.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://today.az/news/politics/26721.html |title=Ukraine suggests setting up GUAM peacekeeping unit |date=31 May 2006 |work=Today.az |access-date=18 April 2007 |archive-date=23 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023183731/http://today.az/news/politics/26721.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The following year, GUAM nations agreed to form a 500-personnel joint peacekeeping force to battle [[separatism]].

In June 2007, presidents of Lithuania, Poland and Romania joined the leaders of GUAM member states at the GUAM summit in [[Baku]], Azerbaijan. Also participating at the summit were the Vice-President of [[Bulgaria]], the Vice-Speaker of the Estonian parliament, the Minister of Economy of Latvia, and the high—level representatives of the United States, Japan, the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] (OSCE), the [[Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation]] (BSEC), [[UNESCO]], and heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Azerbaijan.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.azembassy.com/new/news.php?id=445 |title=Embassy of Azerbaijan in the U.S.: Baku hosts GUAM Second Summit |access-date=24 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927192815/http://www.azembassy.com/new/news.php?id=445 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

===After Russian invasion and annexation of Crimea (2014–present)===
In December 2014, then-Ukrainian Foreign Minister [[Pavlo Klimkin]] proposed that GUAM should use English during meetings, instead of Russian, which was also the main language used in official gatherings in the [[Soviet Union]]. GUAM representatives agreed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/26727422.html|title=Ex-Soviet GUAM Switches To English|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=5 December 2014 |access-date=7 April 2018|archive-date=13 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113104508/http://www.rferl.org/a/26727422.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/article/26727422.html |title=Ex-Soviet GUAM Group Drops Russian, Switches To English |date=5 December 2014 |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |access-date=14 January 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122815/http://www.rferl.org/content/article/26727422.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2017, GUAM officially established agreements on a [[free-trade area]] and harmonization of customs procedures among its member states.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kmu.gov.ua/en/news/249849049|website=[[Government of Ukraine]]|access-date=13 November 2020|date=27 March 2017|title=In the framework of the GUAM summit governments of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova signed protocols on the establishment of the FTA and mutual recognition of results of customs control procedures|archive-date=13 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113180237/https://www.kmu.gov.ua/en/news/249849049|url-status=live}}</ref>{{update inline|date=September 2021}}

In May 2021, three of the four members, Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, joined the [[Association Trio]] in order to jointly facilitate further European integration.<!--Is there now a GUAM free trade area? If so, update [[List of multilateral free-trade agreements]]. -->

{{Supranational PostSoviet Bodies|size=250px|align=right}}

==Free trade area negotiations==
An Agreement on Establishment of Free Trade Area between the GUUAM Participating States was signed on 20 July 2002. <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://guam-organization.org/en/protocol-on-rules-for-determining-the-country-of-origin-of-goods-to-the-agreement-on-establishment-of-free-trade-area-between-the-guuam-participating-states/ |title=Protocol on rules for determining the country of origin of goods to the Agreement on Establishment of Free Trade Area between the GUUAM Participating States |date=20 September 2022 |access-date=19 June 2023 |archive-date=19 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619163502/https://guam-organization.org/en/protocol-on-rules-for-determining-the-country-of-origin-of-goods-to-the-agreement-on-establishment-of-free-trade-area-between-the-guuam-participating-states/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2017 Ukraine announced agreements on a [[free-trade area]] and harmonization of customs procedures among its member states.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kmu.gov.ua/en/news/249849049|website=[[Government of Ukraine]]|access-date=13 November 2020|date=27 March 2017|title=In the framework of the GUAM summit governments of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova signed protocols on the establishment of the FTA and mutual recognition of results of customs control procedures|archive-date=13 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113180237/https://www.kmu.gov.ua/en/news/249849049|url-status=live}}</ref>

At the 77th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly held in New York on 20 September 2022, the Foreign Ministers of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development (GUAM) members came together on the sidelines and held the 39th Cabinet meeting of GUAM. After the meeting, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova signed a protocol on the determination of the country of origin of the goods. In addition, it was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine that a free trade zone was established between the GUAM countries.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ankasam.org/free-zone-developed-in-the-shadow-of-the-russia-ukraine-war-economies-of-guam/?lang=en |title=Free Zone Developed in the Shadow of the Russia-Ukraine War: Economies of GUAM |date=October 2022 |access-date=19 June 2023 |archive-date=19 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619165001/https://www.ankasam.org/free-zone-developed-in-the-shadow-of-the-russia-ukraine-war-economies-of-guam/?lang=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://guam-organization.org/en/protocol-on-rules-for-determining-the-country-of-origin-of-goods-to-the-agreement-on-establishment-of-free-trade-area-between-the-guuam-participating-states/ |title=Protocol on rules for determining the country of origin of goods to the Agreement on Establishment of Free Trade Area between the GUUAM Participating States |date=20 September 2022 |access-date=19 June 2023 |archive-date=19 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619163502/https://guam-organization.org/en/protocol-on-rules-for-determining-the-country-of-origin-of-goods-to-the-agreement-on-establishment-of-free-trade-area-between-the-guuam-participating-states/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Free Trade Area has not been ratified and has not entered into force. It is too soon to be sure whether GUAM member states will ratify the free trade area soon, or if the project will be placed on hiatus. There is also the question about to what extent an FTA could help financially GUAM countries compared to other projects, such as European Union membership or the Middle Corridor.  GUAM is a regional bloc that has not demonstrated its usefulness to its member states compared to other organizations or projects that GUAM member states are part of.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/guam-2-0-can-free-trade-revive-the-forgotten-regional-bloc/ |title=GUAM 2.0: Can Free Trade Revive the Forgotten Regional Bloc? |date=3 October 2022 |access-date=19 June 2023 |archive-date=19 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619163458/https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/guam-2-0-can-free-trade-revive-the-forgotten-regional-bloc/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Members==
; Current
* {{flagcountry|Georgia}} (1997)
* {{flagcountry|Ukraine}} (1997)
* {{flagcountry|Azerbaijan}} (1997)
* {{flagcountry|Moldova}} (1997)

; Former
* {{flagcountry|Uzbekistan}} (1999–2002)
{{clear}}

==See also==
{{Div col|small=yes}}
* [[Association Trio]]
* [[Black Sea Forum]]
* [[Commonwealth of Independent States]]
* [[Community of Democratic Choice]]
* [[Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations]]
* [[Euronest Parliamentary Assembly]]
* [[Military of Azerbaijan]]
* [[Military of Georgia]]
* [[Military of Moldova]]
* [[Military of Ukraine]]
* [[Politics of Europe]]
* [[Post-Soviet states]]
* [[Shanghai Cooperation Organisation]]
* [[TRACECA]]
* [[Roman Empire]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Sources==
* {{cite web |url=http://today.az/news/politics/26721.html |title=Ukraine suggests setting up GUAM peacekeeping unit |date=31 May 2006 |work=Today.az |access-date=18 April 2007 }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.az/eng/international/organizations/guam.shtml |title=Azerbaijan-GUAM |work=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan |access-date=18 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070416093857/http://www.mfa.gov.az/eng/international/organizations/guam.shtml <!--Bot retrieved archive--> |archive-date=16 April 2007 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090907040823/http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=10062 GUAM News] (subscribers only)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060615100824/http://www.bakutoday.net/view.php?d=21284 Baku Today]
* {{cite web |url=http://www.guuam.org/general/history.html |title=The GUUAM Group: History and Principles |work=guuam.org |access-date=12 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070728125213/http://www.guuam.org/general/history.html |archive-date=28 July 2007 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.traceca-org.org/ |title=Welcome to TRACECA |work=TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe Caucasus Asia) IGC |access-date=12 June 2007 }}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.eurasianhome.org/xml/t/databases.xml?lang=en&nic=databases&intorg=1&pid=26|title=GUAM Group|work=Eurasian Home|access-date=12 June 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901033227/http://www.eurasianhome.org/xml/t/databases.xml?lang=en&nic=databases&intorg=1&pid=26|archive-date=1 September 2007}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}}

{{portal bar|Azerbaijan|Europe|Georgia (country)|Moldova|Ukraine}}
{{GUAM countries}}
{{regional organizations}}
{{Trade}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2001 in international relations]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in Moldova]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Azerbaijan–Georgia (country) relations]]
[[Category:Black Sea organizations]]
[[Category:European integration]]
[[Category:International diplomatic organizations]]
[[Category:International organizations based in Europe]]
[[Category:Intergovernmental organizations established by treaty]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Moldova]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Ukraine]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2001]]
[[Category:United Nations General Assembly observers]]
[[Category:Democracy promotion]]