At the opening of its Winter Session, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) today re-elected Jean-Claude Mignon as its President. The delegates also elected vice-presidents.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili is expected to address the PACE delegates on Monday.

The winter session will be held from January 21 to 25. The agenda of the PACE session will also include the honoring of obligations and commitments by Azerbaijan, and the follow-up to the issue of political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

Delegates will also discuss issues related to freedom of the press in Europe. An address from the European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle is scheduled during the session.