Press release issued by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

VIENNA, 9 November 2009 - The following is a press release issued by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly today. The views expressed in this press release do not necessarily reflect those of the OSCE Chairmanship, nor of all OSCE participating States.

OSCE PA President Joao Soares visits Kazakhstan

COPENHAGEN, 9 November 2009 - OSCE PA President Joao Soares (Portugal) will pay an official visit to Kazakhstan 10 to 12 November, accompanied by the Assembly's Secretary General Spencer Oliver .

President Soares is scheduled to hold a series of talks and meetings in the capital Astana with the Kazakh leadership, including President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev, as well as the country's parliamentary leaders, among them Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Chairman of the Senate and a Vice President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

President Soares is scheduled to address the Members of the Senate and faculty members and students of the Academy of Public Administration.

Mr. Soares will also meet with the Chairman of the Central Election Commission and with the leadership and staff of the OSCE Centre in Astana.

At next month's Ministerial Council in Athens, Kazakhstan will take over from Greece the OSCE Chairmanship.