June 4, 2005 - 07:57 AMT
ELMAR MAMEDYAROV: ARMENIA AND RUSSIA CAN BECOME GUAM MEMBERS
Armenia and Russia can be accepted to the GUAM, stated Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov, reported Trend news agency. «If Armenia is ready to sign all basic GUAM documents, then why not,» he stated when commenting over Ukrainian Supreme Rada Speaker Vladimir Litvin's proposal to Armenia and Russia to join GUAM. The Azeri FM noted that the GUAM basic documents provide for struggle against separatism and recognition of territorial integrity. «If Armenia wishes to sign these, she can do it. If Russia also shares all the principles provided for by the organization documents, it can join the GUAM, too,» the Minister said. E. Mamedyarov accentuated the GUAM is not a close but an open organization. «If Armenia and Russia or Latvia and Lithuania share the same views as the GUAM member states, they may apply and join the organization. It is normal. We live in a free world, thus the decision of each country should be made independently and should be respected,» the Azeri FM summed up.