OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President to meet officials in Rome

COPENHAGEN, 27 March 2003 - At the invitation of the Head of the Italian Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA), Marcello Pacini, the President of the OSCE PA, Bruce George, will pay a visit to Rome on 31 March and 1 April.

His official visit will include meetings with the Speaker of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Pier Ferdinando Casini, the Deputy Speaker of the Senate, Domenico Fisichella, and the Chairmen of the Defence and Foreign Affairs Committees of the Chamber of Deputies, Luigi Ramponi and Gustavo Selva. PA President George will also meet the Under-secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Margherita Boniver, to discuss OSCE-related issues, and Archbishop Tauran, responsible for state relations at the State Secretariat of the Holy See.

During Mr. George's stay in Rome, he will discuss with the Italian Delegation to the OSCE PA, among other issues, prospects and preparations for the OSCE PA Autumn Conference, which will focus this year on freedom of religion and will be held together with the Mediterranean Forum, as well as a Meeting of the Standing Committee in Rome next October.

On 31 March President George will address the Italian Society for International Organizations on the topic "The OSCE and the new European Security Environment".