DRAFT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

24 October 2005

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Albert Jan Maat, Simon Coveney and Bernd Posselt
on behalf of the EPP-ED
on Uzbekistan

B6-0569/2005

European parliament resolution on Uzbekistan

the European Parliament,

-  having regard to its previous resolutions on Uzbekistan,

-  having regard to the European Union Statement on Uzbekistan of 19 May 2005,

-  having regard to the OSCE/ODIHR report on the events in Andijan,

-  having regard to the conclusions of the Council of 23 May 2005, 13 June 2005, 18 July 2005 and 3 October 2005,

-  having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas the government of Uzbekistan has not yet allowed any independent inquiry into the events in Andijan of 13 May 2005,

B.  whereas the Uzbek authorities are restricting the free flow of information about the events,

C.  whereas the European Union still contributes financially to the activities of the Uzbek parliament, despite the fact that many parties were excluded during the last presidential elections,

D.  whereas the Council has decided to impose an embargo on exports to Uzbekistan of arms, military equipment and other equipment that might be used for internal repression and to implement restrictions on admission to the European Union aimed at those individuals directly responsible for the indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force in Andijan,

1.  Urges the Commission to put the annual European Union budget for "national projects and institution building" in Uzbekistan in the reserve, without prejudice to humanitarian aid;

2.  Welcomes and supports the latest conclusions of the Council on Uzbekistan, including the demand that the Uzbek authorities lend their full cooperation to the international community's efforts for an independent inquiry into the events in Andijan and appeals to the Uzbekistan authorities to facilitate such an independent inquiry;

3.  Appeals to the Uzbek authorities to make every effort to facilitate meetings between Members taking part in the 6th EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee and members of the opposition, NGOs and the independent media;

4.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, the EU Special Representative for Central Asia and the Government of Uzbekistan.