PACE PRESIDENT: FROZEN CONFLICTS MUST BE SOLVED

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 3 2007

YEREVAN, July 3. /ARKA/. Frozen conflicts must be solved, said the
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) Rene van der Linden on eve of visit to Armenia, Azerbaijan
and Georgia scheduled for July 4-10.

"This is an important region for the Council of Europe, and my main
aim in returning here is to see how we can do more to solve the frozen
conflicts in the countries concerned ", he said.

Rene van der Linden pointed out that only the settlement of the
conflicts will enable the peaceful development of the region in the
interest of all its peoples and the building of one Europe without
dividing lines, the Information Office of the Council of Europe
reported.

Within the regional visit to visit Armenia (4-5 July), Georgia (5-7
July) and Azerbaijan (8-10 July) the PACE President will meet with the
presidents, leading members of the parliament and the governments of
the South Caucasus countries, as well as with leaders of political
forces, representatives of civil society, mass media and religious
leaders.

PACE President also intends to raise the rights of the opposition,
freedom of expression, the role of civil society, intercultural and
inter-religious dialogue.