"The attempt at resuscitating the GUUAM is rather connected with the new opportunities for economic and security interaction in the Back Sea-Caspian region. They have been frozen in recent time", he believes. The GUUAM watcher cites among the priority goals transportation of energy carriers, attraction of new investments and the stabilization of the intrapolitical situation in the GUUAM members.
Expansion of the GUUAM functions is expected to be in focus in talks between Victor Yuschenko and Mikhail Saakashvili during the Georgian president's visit to Kiev, which begins on Thursday.
In the opinion of Chalyi, the GUUAM prospects are linked to the arrangement of cooperation with the European Union. "Orientation towards the European values is among the priorities of the GUUAM members", he noted. In this connection, by virtue of its geopolitical situation, economic potential and "clear orientation to the European model of development" Ukraine can be the motive force of the organization.
In turn, Yulia Tischenko, head of the civil society development programs at the Ukrainian Independent Political Studies Center, is sure that the GUUAM was established in 1997 because "within the framework of the CIS it was actually impossible to resolve problems of interstate cooperation".
She noted in the RIA Novosti interview that the GUUAM members have failed to create a regional free-trade zone, increase mutual trade turnover, realize ambitious energy projects.
"Now, Ukraine and other members of the GUUAM stand a chance for resuscitating the authority, although the position of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan is still uncertain. The project can also be revived in the context of attracting under its aegis other countries outside the post-Soviet space", Tischenko said.
