Visit of PACE president to Southern Caucasus countries started yesterday

APA was informed about it from the CE Information Office in Baku. This is the first visit of Rene Van Der Linden to the Southern Caucasus region after he was elected the president of the organization in January.

The PACE president arrived in Yerevan today will be in this country till August 20. He will conduct meetings with the Armenian president Robert Kocharyan, chairman of the parliament Artur Bagdarsaryan, minister of foreign affairs Vardan Oskanyan, Minister of Justice David Arutunyan, and representatives of NGOs and opposition. His meeting with the Catholicos of all Armenians II Garagen was also planned. The main questions to be discussed are the process of constitutional reforms, regulation of the Upper Garabagh conflict, democratic reforms and pluralism.

Rene Van Der Linden will be on the visit in Georgia on August 20-21. He will meet with the prime-minister Zurab Nogaydeli, vice-chairman of the parliament Mikhail Machavariani, oppositionist representatives represented in the parliament and representatives of the public.

Besides, the meeting of the PACE head with the patriarch of Georgia second Iliya was also planned. The constitutional situation, independence of the courts, freedom of gathering and speech, and press pluralism will be mainly discussed in the meetings.

Rene Var Den Linden will be in Baku on August 21-23. It is intended that he will conduct meetings with the president Ilham Aliyev, chairman of the parliament Murtuz Alasgarov, prime-minister Artur Rasizade, minister of foreign affairs Elmar Mammadyarov and representatives of NGOs, opposition and mass media. His meeting with the sheikh of the whole Caucasus Haji Allahshukur Pashazade is also planned.

The parliamentary elections to be held in November, political prisoners and Upper Garabagh conflict will be the priority questions among the topics to be discussed during his visit to Azerbaijan. A press-conference will be held at the end of the visit.