The European Parliament adopted by 99 votes to 0, with 0 abstentions, a resolution on Uzbekistan.

The resolution had been tabled by the ALDE, Greens/ALE, EPP-ED, UEN, GUE/NGL and PES groups.

It refers to recent events and notes that the Government of Uzbekistan has not yet allowed any independent inquiry to be held into the events of 13 May 2005 in Andijan, where an indeterminate number of civilians - several hundred, according to some witnesses - were shot dead and an even greater number injured by 'government security forces'. Parliament urges the Commission to place the annual EU budget for 'national projects and institution-building' in Uzbekistan in the reserve, without prejudice to humanitarian aid. It condemns the refusal by the Government of Uzbekistan to provide transparency and its withdrawal from external contact, and stresses how important it is for an international committee of inquiry to have the opportunity to clarify immediately the circumstances surrounding the events of May 2005 in the Andijan region.

Members reiterate the importance of EU-Uzbekistan relations and recognise the crucial role of Uzbekistan in the Central Asia region. They stress, however, that those relations must be based on mutual respect for the principles of democracy, the rule of law and human rights as clearly laid down in the EU-Uzbekistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement which entered into force on 1 July 1999.

Parliament supports the decision taken at the General Affairs Council meeting on 3 October 2005 to impose an embargo on the export to Uzbekistan of arms and military equipment, to introduce restrictions on the admission to the EU of Uzbek nationals directly responsible for the Andijan repression and to suspend sine die all scheduled technical meetings under the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. It also supports the Commission’s reorientation and reduction of its TACIS programme in order to support an increased focus on the needs of the population as well as fostering links with Uzbek civil society.

The Government of Uzbekistan is urged to do the following:

release all human rights activists, journalists and political opposition members who are still in detention and allow them to work freely and without fear of persecution and to put an end to the harassment of NGOs; restore freedom of the press and abandon the judicial measures taken against national media and NGOs which wish to promote pluralism of information; ensure that the trial of the individuals accused of plotting to overthrow the Uzbek government fully complies with international law and be open to independent observers; facilitate a visit to Andijan and meetings between Members taking part in the 6th EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee and the opposition, NGOs and the independent media. This follows the Uzbek authorities decided to postpone the 6th EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee meeting.

Lastly, Parliament calls on the Kyrgyz authorities not to deport arrested refugees as long as the Uzbek Government cannot guarantee an independent and fair trial and grant humanitarian organisations access to those under arrest.

The European Parliament adopted by 99 votes to 0, with 0 abstentions, a resolution on Uzbekistan.

The resolution had been tabled by the ALDE, Greens/ALE, EPP-ED, UEN, GUE/NGL and PES groups.

It refers to recent events and notes that the Government of Uzbekistan has not yet allowed any independent inquiry to be held into the events of 13 May 2005 in Andijan, where an indeterminate number of civilians - several hundred, according to some witnesses - were shot dead and an even greater number injured by 'government security forces'. Parliament urges the Commission to place the annual EU budget for 'national projects and institution-building' in Uzbekistan in the reserve, without prejudice to humanitarian aid. It condemns the refusal by the Government of Uzbekistan to provide transparency and its withdrawal from external contact, and stresses how important it is for an international committee of inquiry to have the opportunity to clarify immediately the circumstances surrounding the events of May 2005 in the Andijan region.

Members reiterate the importance of EU-Uzbekistan relations and recognise the crucial role of Uzbekistan in the Central Asia region. They stress, however, that those relations must be based on mutual respect for the principles of democracy, the rule of law and human rights as clearly laid down in the EU-Uzbekistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement which entered into force on 1 July 1999.

Parliament supports the decision taken at the General Affairs Council meeting on 3 October 2005 to impose an embargo on the export to Uzbekistan of arms and military equipment, to introduce restrictions on the admission to the EU of Uzbek nationals directly responsible for the Andijan repression and to suspend sine die all scheduled technical meetings under the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. It also supports the Commission’s reorientation and reduction of its TACIS programme in order to support an increased focus on the needs of the population as well as fostering links with Uzbek civil society.

The Government of Uzbekistan is urged to do the following:

release all human rights activists, journalists and political opposition members who are still in detention and allow them to work freely and without fear of persecution and to put an end to the harassment of NGOs; restore freedom of the press and abandon the judicial measures taken against national media and NGOs which wish to promote pluralism of information; ensure that the trial of the individuals accused of plotting to overthrow the Uzbek government fully complies with international law and be open to independent observers; facilitate a visit to Andijan and meetings between Members taking part in the 6th EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee and the opposition, NGOs and the independent media. This follows the Uzbek authorities decided to postpone the 6th EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee meeting.

Lastly, Parliament calls on the Kyrgyz authorities not to deport arrested refugees as long as the Uzbek Government cannot guarantee an independent and fair trial and grant humanitarian organisations access to those under arrest.