TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia will have the chairmanship of GUAM in 2013.

Foreign Affairs Minister Maia Panjikidze said at Monday’s regular briefing that Georgia was officially appointed in Dublin a few days ago, at a session of the GUAM foreign minister council.

GUAM is an international organization between countries in Eastern Europe established in 1997, originally named GUUAM as it encompassed Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldova. After Uzbekistan left in 2005 the organization’s name was changed to GUAM.

Its main goal is economic cooperation between the member states.

Maia Panjikidze noted that the organization’s priorities will remain the same. Work will continue in regards to widening the organization.

“For example GUAM has relations with Japan and the US. We will have new priorities as well. We will try to broaden the activities which we are having now. It will apply to relations with Korea, which may become new partner of GUAM,” she added.