DUSHANBE, June 6, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- President of the Parliamentary Assembly (PA) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Joao Soares will visit three countries in Central Asia.

According to the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, with the visit from June 7-14 to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, President Soares aims to show support for the work of the OSCE field missions in the region.

The OSCE President has regularly stated that the OSCE’s most important work is conducted by field missions, and he looks forward to getting further acquainted with the details of their work.

The visit is also aimed at increasing dialogue on regional and international issues with representatives of the three Central Asia countries, as the OSCE President is scheduled to meet with the region’s parliamentary, and governmental leaders, as well as with representatives of civil society.

In Bishkek, the delegation will also discuss preparations for the 23 July presidential election in Kyrgyzstan.  Kyrgyzstan has invited OSCE observers to monitor the election.