Moldova Proposes Location Change For GUUAM Summit

According to the Russian Interfax news agency, Moldova has proposed that the upcoming GUUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldova) summit be relocated. The conference is currently scheduled to be held in the capital of the Adjarian Autonomous Republic, Batumi, on June 16.

However, the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported on June 4 that it has not received any official notification from the Moldovan government in regards to a location change and plans to hold the conference in Batumi as scheduled. 

Interfax news agency reported on June 3 that the Moldovan government submitted a location change proposal, owing to ?the tense situation? in Adjara

Interfax quoted a message sent by the Moldovan government to the GUUAM member states that explained that ?the current tense situation [in Adjara] would not create a constructive atmosphere during the meeting of the five Presidents of the [GUUAM member] countries.?

Georgian authorities decided to hold the GUUAM summit in Batumi, in the wake of ex-Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze’s ousting in early May, to help exemplify the success of peaceful power transitions in the region.