Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-06-08-Speech-3-210"
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"en.20050608.18.3-210"2
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"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the situation in Uzbekistan remains extremely serious, with President Karimov continuing to reject calls for an international inquiry into the recent tragic events. According to the various reports, over 500 Uzbek refugees are still in Kyrgyzstan.
The European Union’s efforts are currently focused on two aims, namely to put pressure on President Karimov for an international inquiry, and to assist the refugees in Kyrgyzstan. In the longer term, however, we cannot neglect the need to promote democracy, the rule of law and human rights in the region, as well as to push ahead with internal reforms in Uzbekistan.
At the start of the events in Andijan, the Presidency published a statement, dated 14 May 2005, expressing serious concern at the situation and inviting the parties to refrain from violence and to find a peaceful solution. The Council followed developments in Uzbekistan closely and discussed this issue at the highest level. On 23 May 2005, it adopted conclusions on the situation in eastern Uzbekistan. These conclusions sent an urgent, clear and relevant message to the Uzbek authorities. The Council expressed its grave concern at the latest developments in eastern Uzbekistan and roundly condemned the excessive and disproportionate use of force by the Uzbek security forces.
The Council urged the Uzbek authorities to comply with their international obligations in terms of democracy, the rule of law and human rights. It also invited them to allow the humanitarian agencies and other international organisations immediate and unfettered access to the region concerned. Additionally, the Council stressed the need to deal with the underlying causes of instability in the country through in-depth internal reforms to be implemented by the Uzbek authorities. The Council will coordinate its action with the OSCE and other members of the international community such as the Russian Federation and the USA, in order to provide its support to the reform process.
The Council’s message to the Uzbek authorities is therefore clear: we stand ready to help you, but only if a peaceful and lasting solution can be found to the present situation, and if internal reforms are implemented to deal with the deeper causes of the country’s instability. On 1 June 2005, the local British presidency in Tashkent approached the Uzbek Foreign Minister, Mr Ganiev, asking him to request the Uzbek authorities to reconsider their rejection of an independent international inquiry and to draw his attention to the country’s international obligations. The invitation by the Uzbek authorities to EU ambassadors resident in Tashkent to observe the national investigation into the events in Andijan, an inquiry to be conducted by the Public Prosecutor and the Uzbek Parliament, is not acceptable as a valid alternative to an independent international inquiry. The Secretary-General/High Representative, Mr Solana, decided to send his personal representative on human rights, Mr Matthiessen, to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. His mission had to be aborted because the Uzbek authorities refused to grant him a visa. The Council views this episode as a very disappointing – indeed worrying – development in relations between the European Union and Uzbekistan.
Despite President Karimov’s continuing refusal to demands for an independent international inquiry into events in Andijan, the Council will continue to insist and, in conjunction with the OSCE, the UN and other international organisations will coordinate the operational procedures for such an inquiry, in the event that the Uzbek authorities reconsider their decision. The Council will take appropriate measures in the light of the reply from the Uzbek authorities and the results of the possible inquiry."@en1
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