Strasbourg, 09.07.2010 – Kastriot Islami (Albania, SOC) and Michael Jensen (Denmark, ALDE), co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of Georgia, will make a fact-finding visit to this country from 12 to 15 July, as part of their ongoing assessment of the honouring of Georgia’s Council of Europe obligations and commitments. Discussions should focus on the reform of the justice sector, human rights protection, decentralisation and local self-government, media pluralism as well as the fight against corruption.
During their visit, they will meet, in particular, the President of the Republic Mikheil Saakashvili, the Chairman of the Parliament David Bakradze, the Minister of the Interior Ivane Merabishvili, the Minister of Justice Zurab Adeishvili, the Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance Khatuna Kalmakhelidze and the Minister of Regional Development and Infra-Structure Ramaz Nikolaishvili.
Talks are also scheduled with representatives of the parliamentary majority and opposition and with representatives of the non-parliamentary opposition, the Chairman of the Supreme Court Konstantine Kublashvili, the Human Rights Adviser, the Mayor of Tbilisi George Ugulava and other representatives of local authorities. The co-rapporteurs will also meet representatives of the media and of NGOs working on human rights and anti-corruption issues.
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Mr Islami et Mr Jensen will give a press conference on Thursday 15 July at 6.30 p.m. in the conference hall of the Georgian parliament
PACE contact: Communication Division, tel : +33 3 88 41 22 82
