Uzbekistan not to Participate at GUUAM Presidential Summit

(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, July 15, 2002) – “Uzbekistan’s intention to pull out of GUUAM is not a final decision, although Uzbekistan will not take part in the upcoming Presidential summit,” Georgian President said in the interview to the state radio company on July 15.

On July 19 the Presidential summit of GUUAM, alliance of five former Soviet states – Georgian, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldova, will be held in Yalta, Ukraine.

In June Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan announced about withdrawal from the organization.

“Rumors on GUUAM’s death turned to be false,” Eduard Shevardnadze said. He added that Ukraine plays an important role for making the organization more effective.