[Via... http://www.egroups.com/group/Communist-Internet ] . . ----- Original Message ----- From: Downwithcapitalism <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2001 6:15 PM Subject: [downwithcapitalism] GUUAM formalized Associated Press. 7 June 2001. Post - Soviet Alliance Sign Charter. KIEV -- Leaders of five former Soviet republics signed a charter Thursday to formalize their loose alliance, but withheld support for an agreement on a free trade zone. "Our concrete aim is to create a capable organism of transport corridors from Europe to Asia,'' Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma said after signing the documents. "I think every country will benefit from this cooperation." Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldova belong to the alliance, which is known as GUUAM -- an acronym made up of the first letter of each member's name. During the ceremony, Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze said the alliance would focus on strengthening economic ties and voiced hope that other states will join it in the future. The presidents signed the charter as they wrapped up a two-day summit in the Crimean resort town of Yalta. But an expected agreement on a more comprehensive free trade zone was not signed after some participants -- including Uzbek President Islam Karimov -- voiced opposition. The member states, which seek access to regional and international markets, are expected to focus their cooperation on the energy sector. "Not only does the competitiveness of a state's economy depend upon the energy sector, but its political and economic stability also," Kuchma said. GUUAM is one of several loose alliances of former Soviet republics united within the Commonwealth of Independent States. The informal alliance was created in 1997 with the goal of providing new transport routes to Europe, and Uzbekistan joined it in 1998. Alliance leaders have rejected the notion that the alliance could become a political or military bloc. * * * * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
