OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Helle Degn visits Georgia and Armenia

COPENHAGEN, 19 April 2000 - On 23-28 April 2000, Mrs. Helle Degn, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, will visit Georgia and Armenia to gain further insight into the present situation in the area and to support the work of the OSCE field activities.

President Degn, who represents more than 300 parliamentarians from 54 OSCE participating States, will meet in Georgia with the President of Georgia Mr. Eduard Shevardnadze and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Irakli Menagarishvili. During her meetings with parliamentary representatives, Mrs. Degn will have talks with the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Mr. Zurab Zhvania; the Chairman of the Committee on Security and Defense, Mr. Revaz Adamia and the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, Mrs. Nino Burjanadze. Mrs. Degn will also have talks with Chairman of the Supreme Court of Georgia, Mr. Vladimer Chanturia and the Chairman of the Central Election Commission Mr. Jumber Lominadze.

On Tuesday, 25 April President Degn will visit the Georgian border with Chechnya.

During her visit to Armenia, 27-29 April, Parliamentary Assembly President Degn will have meetings with the President of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Robert Kocharian and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Vardan Oskanian, as well as the Chairman of the National Assembly, Mr. Armen Khachatrian and the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hovhaness Hovhannisian and other parliamentary representatives. She will also meet with H.H. Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch, Catholicos of all Armenians.

For further information contact Mr. Jan Jooren, Press Counsellor, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, e-mail press.counsellor@oscepa.dk, tel. +45 33378040, fax. +45 33378030.