GUAM is a regional initiative of four states, of which name comes from the initials of the founding states: Georgia, Ukraine, the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Moldova. Initially, there were five states (Uzbekistan), and this organization was called GUUAM.

The creation of the consultative forum of 4 states (Georgia, Ukraine, Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Moldova) took place on 10 October 1997 in Strasbourg during the Europe Council Summit, where was adopted the Joint Communique of the four Presidents meeting. In this document, the Presidents noted the need to develop the quadrilateral cooperation to strengthen stability and security in Europe, based on the following principles:

1. respect for sovereignty;
2. territorial integrity;
3. inviolability of state borders;
4. democracy;
5. rule of law and respect for human rights.

Organizational structure:

1. The Supreme Body of GUUAM is the Annual Meeting of GUUAM Member State Presidents;
2. The Executive Body of GUUAM is the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which usually takes place twice a year;
3. The Working Body of GUUAM is the National Coordinators’ Committee composed of National Coordinators nominated by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, each from each Member State;
4. The information office in Kiev (Ukraine) performs the duties of Secretariat and is also the GUUAM Information Center.

Coordination of cooperation between GUUAM states at branch level is carried out by 8 Working Groups in the following fields:

1. Energy;
2. Transport;
3. Economy and trade;
4. Computer science and telecommunications;
5. Culture and education;
6. Tourism;
7. The fight against terrorism;
8. Organized crime and drug trafficking.