Parliamentary Assembly President visits Turkmenistan

COPENHAGEN, 15 February 1999 - From 18-20 February 1999, Mrs. Helle Degn, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, will visit Turkmenistan to observe the situation in the Republic in connection with the core areas of the work of the OSCE Center in Turkmenistan. President Degn, representing more than 300 parliamentarians from 54 participating OSCE states, will on 18 February meet with the President of Turkmenistan, Mr. S. Niyazov; Speaker of the Parliament, Mr. S. Muradov and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. B. Shikhmuradov. On 19 February, President Degn will also meet with the Director of the National Institute for Human Rights, Mr. V.A. Kaderov.

Mrs. Degn's visit to Turkmenistan is part of a series of extensive visits of the President of the OSCE PA to observe and support the work of OSCE Offices, Centers and Missions; to meet new OSCE officials in the field; meet high-ranking government and parliamentary officials and to draw attention to the role the OSCE plays in the region.

Mrs. Degn's visits to Central Asia include Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. After Turkmenistan Mrs. Degn will also visit Ukraine (22-23 February) and Moldova (24-26 February).

For further information, please contact Mr. Jan Jooren, Counsellor, Press and Public Affairs, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, at telephone +45 3332 9400, fax +45 3332 5505 or OSCE Center in Turkmenistan at telephone + (993 12) 41 97 61, fax + (993 12) 41 31 56 or 51 22 36.