MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
24.10.2005
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Cem Özdemir and Bart Staes
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
on Uzbekistan
B6‑0564/2005
European Parliament resolution on Uzbekistan
The European Parliament,
- having regard to previous resolutions on the Central Asia Republics and Uzbekistan with regard, in particular, to its resolution of 9 June 2005,
- having regard to its resolution on "Human Rights in the world and EU's policy" of 28 April 2005,
- having regard to its resolution on "Human Rights (Geneva 14 March to 22 April 2005)" of 24 February 2005,
- 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 the conclusions of the Council of General Affairs and External Relations of 18 July and 3 October 2005,
- having regard to the Commission’s Central Asia Strategy Paper 2002-2006,
– having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the government of Uzbekistan has refused to allow an independent enquiry into the events in Andijan of May 2005, where hundreds of civilians were killed and many were injured by security forces,
B. whereas fifteen men are at present on trial in Tashkent, accused of trying to overthrow the government and establish an Islamic state while leading the armed unrest in Andijan,
C. whereas international human rights organisations have denounced the arrest of thousands of people in order to cover up the truth, that people in detention are at serious risk of being subjected to torture and other ill-treatment and that many have been charged with capital offences and risk being sentenced to death following an unfair trial,
D. whereas most independent local journalists and human rights defenders are being intimidated by the security services or have been driven out of the country,
E. whereas the Uzbek authorities decided to postpone the 6th EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, with the EP delegation wishing to travel to Andijan and to meet with prisoners and non-governmental organisations,
F. whereas a group of 439 of Uzbek refugees fleeing after the May 13 uprising to the Kyrgyz border have been transferred to a UN camp in Romania and whereas the situation of some of the refugees after the events in Andijan remains unclear,
G. whereas the Uzbek President, Mr. Karimov, has been the leader of the country since its independence in 1989 and has prevented any real democratic development,
H. whereas the development of civic society is a basic step to provide the country with a functioning democracy, stability and social cohesion which is essential to fight effectively against any risk of religious extremism,
I. whereas Uzbek society is largely secular and the limited religious extremism is essentially fuelled by social injustice, stressing that the fight against religious extremism can only be conducted through legal means and not through oppression,
J. whereas civil society in Uzbekistan, as well as in neighbouring countries, demands a more open society, where individual freedoms and human rights are fully respected and there is real progress towards democracy,
1. Condemns the Uzbekistan authorities' refusal to allow an independent enquiry into the events in Andijan of May 2005, this being an essential step to restore Uzbekistan's international credibility as far asits compliance with international standards of respect of rule of law and human rights is concerned;
2. Reiterates the importance of EU-Uzbekistan relations and recognizes the crucial role of Uzbekistan 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 clearly laid down in the EU/Uzbekistan Partenership and Cooperation Agreement;
3. Welcomes and supports the decision taken at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting on 3 October 2005 to introduce an embargo on the export of arms and military equipment and other equipment that might be used for internal repression to Uzbekistan, to implement restrictions on admission to the EU of Uzbek individuals directly responsible of the Andijan events and to suspend sine die all scheduled technical meetings under the PCA and the Commission’s reorientation and reduction of its TACIS programme in order to support increased focus on the needs of the population, democracy, human rights as well as to foster links with Uzbek civil society;
4. Urges the Uzbek President, Mr Karimov, to change radically his authoritarian policy and to engage in democratic reforms, including the promotion of human rights, free elections, accountability and transparency;
5. Urges the Government of Uzbekistan to release all human rights defenders, 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;
6. Urges that the trial of the individuals accused of plotting to overthrow the Uzbek government fully comply with international law and be open to independent observers, these being allowed complete access to the proceedings; takes note of the decision of the Uzbek authorities to allow OSCE observes to attend these trials;
7. Urges the Uzbek authorities to allow members taking part in the 6th EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee meeting to travel to Andijan and to have unconstrained access to members of the opposition, NGOs and the independent media, as standard practice in PCA activities;
8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, the President, the Government and the Parliament of Uzbekistan, the OSCE and the Secretary General of the United Nations.