MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
13.11.2007
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Elisabeth Jeggle, Bernd Posselt, Eija-Riitta Korhola
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
on Uzbekistan
B6‑0452/2007
European Parliament resolution on Uzbekistan
The European Parliament,
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolution on Uzbekistan of 26 October 2006,
- having regard to the Commission's Strategy Paper for Central Asia (2007 - 2012),
- having regard to the Council conclusions of 15 and 16 October 2007,
- having regard to the letters, sent by its President Hans-Gert Pöttering to the Uzbek Minister for Foreign Affairs, of 15 May 2007 and 3 July 2007,
- having regard to the "note on Uzbekistan" by its Directorate-General for External Policies of the Union, Directorate B, of 14 February 2007,
- having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, of the other part, which entered into force on 1 July 1999,
- having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the External Relations Council, at its meeting of 15 and 16 October 2007, renewed for a 12-month period the arms embargo set out in the Common Position 2006/787/CFSP and the visa restrictions for individuals listed in the annex to Common Position 2007/338/CFSP,
B. whereas the Council, on the same occasion, lifted the visa ban on Uzbek officials as set out in the annex to Common Position 2007/338/CFSP for six months, to encourage the Uzbek authorities to take further positive steps to improve the human rights situation,
C. whereas the Uzbek authorities have shown their willingness to engage in dialogue with the EU in the course of 2007, by having held two rounds of experts´ talks on the Andijan events as well as a first round of the human rights dialogue between the EU and Uzbekistan,
1. Confirms its serious concerns about the human rights situation in Uzbekistan;
2. Reiterates the importance of EU-Uzbekistan relations and acknowledges Uzbekistan's crucial role in the Central Asia region but stresses that those relations must be based on mutual respect for the principles of democracy, rule of law and human rights, as is clearly laid down in the EU-Uzbekistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement;
3. Points out that the policy of targeted sanctions has not produced positive results so far; considers it, therefore, justifiable to encourage the Uzbek authorities by lifting the visa ban on Uzbek officials as set out in the annex to Common Position 2007/338/CFSP for six months;
4. Welcomes the general progress that has been made in EU-Uzbekistan relations in the course of 2007;
5. Especially notes the willingness of the Uzbek authorities to engage in dialogue with the EU, by having held two rounds of experts´ talks on the Andijan events as well as a first round of the human rights dialogue between the EU and Uzbekistan;
6. Encourages the Uzbek authorities to make further progress in the area of human rights;
7. Urges the Uzbek authorities to fully implement their international obligations to fundamental freedom, freedom of press and media as well as rule of law,
8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and to the Commission, the EU Special Representative for Central Asia, the Government and the Parliament of Uzbekistan and the Secretary General of the United Nations