OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President visits Albania

COPENHAGEN, 28 May 1999 - On 2-4 June 1999, Mrs. Helle Degn, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, will visit Albania to get acquainted with the present situation in the Republic and with the core areas of the work of the OSCE Presence in Albania.

President Degn, who represents more than 300 parliamentarians from 54 participating OSCE states, will be meeting the President of Albania, Mr. Rexhep Meidani; Speaker of the Albanian Parliament Mr. Skender Gjinushi and the Prime Minister of Albania, Mr. Pandeli Majko. President Degn will also meet the Albanian opposition leaders Mr. Sali Berisha and Mr. Genc Pollo and other leading Albanian officials.

During her stay in Albania, Mrs. Degn will visit two refugee camps in Durres and pay particular attention to the humanitarian situation created by the conflict in Kosovo.

Mrs. Degn's visit to Albania is part of a series of visits by the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to draw attention to the role the OSCE plays in the region, to observe and highlight the work of OSCE Offices, Centers and Missions and to meet high-ranking government and parliamentary officials.

The President's visit to Albania is preceeded by a three-day visit to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (31 May- 2 June).