COPENHAGEN, 15 February 2011 — OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Petros Efthymiou will lead a delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic 16-18 February aimed at strengthening co-operation with the country’s new parliament. 

The delegation (listed below) is scheduled to meet with President Roza Otunbaeva, Speaker Akhmatbek Keldibekov of the Kyrgyz Parliament, Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbaev and other high level government officials.

President Efthymiou will address the Kyrgyz Parliament and lead a roundtable discussion focused on strengthening the role and the capacity of the parliament, including parliamentary oversight.

The roundtable with Members, including Kanathbek Isaev, Head of the Kyrgyz Delegation to the OSCE PA, will also feature participation from government officials and civil society.

Last October, the Kyrgyz people voted for a new 120-member parliament. Presidential elections are expected to be held this November.

The visit is being supported by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek. The delegation will also meet with leaders of the international community and visit the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

The delegation is to include:

Mr. Petros Efthymiou, President of the OSCE PA (Member of Parliament, Greece)

Ms. Pia Christmas-Moeller, Vice-President of the OSCE PA (Member of Parliament, Denmark)

Mr. Serghiy Shevchuk, Rapporteur of the Second Committee (Member of Parliament, Ukraine)

Mr. Tonino Picula, Head of the Delegation of Croatia to the OSCE PA (Member of Parliament, Croatia)

Ms. Viola von Cramon (Member of Parliament, Germany)