Parliamentary Assembly President visits OSCE Mission in Croatia

COPENHAGEN, 7 January 1999 - From 11 to 13 January 1999 Mrs. Helle Degn, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, will pay a three- day visit to the Republic of Croatia where she will observe in the field the core areas of the work of the permanent OSCE Mission regarding the two- way return of refugees and displaced persons and the protection of their rights. On the first day of her visit - Monday, 11 January - Mrs Degn will have meetings with the leadership of the Croatian State Parliament, including Deputy Speaker Jadranka Kosor, Members of the Croatian Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly as well as with Foreign Minister Granic, Minister of the Interior Penic and Minister for European Integration Mintas-Hodak. On the second day of her visit, President Degn will travel to the Danube Region to observe the work of the OSCE field offices. On Wednesday 13 January, Mrs Degn will conclude her visit by having meetings with Minister of Justice Ramljak, Assistant Minister of Development and Reconstruction Pejkovic and Head of the Office for Co-operation with the OSCE Vidosevic.

Note for editors:

At the end of her visit - on Wednesday 13 January, at approximately 13.00 hours - President Degn will give a press conference. You will be informed about the exact time and location of this press conference.

For further information contact:

- Mr. Jan Jooren, Press Counsellor of the OSCE PA, tel + 45 33 32 94 00; mobile + 45 21 60 63 80

- Mr. Mark Fawcett, OSCE Mission to the Republic of Croatia, tel + 385 1 3096 620