OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President visits Ukraine

COPENHAGEN, 18 February 1999 - From 22-23 February 1999, Mrs. Helle Degn, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, will visit Ukraine to get acquainted with the situation in the Republic and with the core areas of the work of the OSCE Mission in Ukraine. President Degn, representing more than 300 parliamentarians from 54 participating OSCE states, will on 22 February meet with the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Mr. V. Pustovoytenko and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. B. Tarasyuk.

On 23 February, President Degn will also meet with the President of Ukraine, Mr. L. Kuchma; Chairman of the Parliament of Ukraine, Mr. O. Tkachenko and Ombudswoman, Mrs. N. Karpachova.

Mrs. Degn's visit to Ukraine is part of a series of extensive visits of the President of the OSCE PA to observe and support the work of OSCE Offices, Centers and Missions; to meet new OSCE officials in the field; meet high-ranking government and parliamentary officials and to draw attention to the role the OSCE plays in the region.

This week Mrs. Degn completes her four-country visit to Central Asia, including Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. After Ukraine Mrs. Degn will also visit Moldova (24-26 February).

For further information, please contact Mr. Jan Jooren, Counsellor, Press and Public Affairs, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, at telephone +45 3332 9400, fax +45 3332 5505 or OSCE Mission in Ukraine at telephone + (380 44) 228 10 31, fax + (380 44) 224 82 43.