OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President visits the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

COPENHAGEN, 27 May 1999 - From 31 May to 2 June 1999, Mrs. Helle Degn, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, will visit the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to get acquainted with the present situation in the Republic and with the core areas of the work of the OSCE Mission in Macedonia.

During her three-day visit, Mrs. Degn, who represents more than 300 parliamentarians from 54 participating OSCE states, will meet the President of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Kiro Gligorov; President of the Assembly, Mr. Savo Klimovski; the President of the Government, Mr. Ljubco Georgievski; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Aleksandar Dimitrov and Minister of Defence, Mr. Nikola Kljusev. Mrs. Degn will also visit refugee camps at Stenkovec and Blace and pay particular attention to the humanitarian situation created by the conflict in Kosovo.

Mrs. Degn's visit to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 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 of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will visit Albania between 2-4 June.