The presidents of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova (GUAM) - Mikheil Saakashvili, Viktor Yushchenko, Ilham Aliyev, and Vladimir Voronin, respectively - signed a declaration in Kyiv on May 23 to set up the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM. Referring to the new body, President Voronin said: "We want to continue to do everything we have been doing, but on a different basis".
President Yushchenko said the objectives of the new organization are to promote democratic values, safeguard sustained economic development, strengthen international and regional security, and deepen European integration.
President Yushchenko said the objectives of the new organization are to promote democratic values, safeguard sustained economic development, strengthen international and regional security, and deepen European integration.