Four ex-Soviet states mull new regional force in GUAM union

Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova are members of GUAM, an organization originally designed as a political, economic, and strategic alliance to "strengthen the independence of these former Soviet republics" and widely seen as a counterbalance to Russian influence on former allies.

"The meeting of representatives of the GUAM countries is devoted to the further development of military cooperation," Viktor Matko said. "The creation of a joint military force, which will comprise a contingent from each member-state, is being discussed."

"We will discuss further military cooperation between the GUAM member states, as well as the establishment of a joint peacekeeping unit," Alexander Kiknadze, head of the Krtsanisi Training Center of the Georgian Defense Ministry, told reporters before the meeting.

The Georgian Ministry of Defense reported on August 17 that a joint peacekeeping battalion could potentially be involved in UN, OSCE, NATO and EU-led humanitarian and peacekeeping operations.

The first meeting to discuss the idea of a joint peacekeeping unit was held by GUAM defense officials in Kiev, Ukraine in June 2006.

/RIA Novosti, Civil.ge/