MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

24.10.2006

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 Marios Matsakis, Ona Juknevičienė,
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on Uzbekistan

B6‑0567/06

European Parliament resolution on Uzbekistan

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Uzbekistan and in particular to its human rights clause;

–  having regard to the conclusions of the Council of General Affairs and External Relations of 23/24 May 2005;

–  having regard to the Commission`s Central Asia Strategy Paper 2002-2006;

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on Uzbekistan and Central Asia Republics and in particular its resolution of 12 May 2005;

A.  whereas following the Andijan massacre in 2005 the Uzbek authorities launched a crackdown on human rights defenders, independent journalists, and civil society institutions and put on trial hundreds of people suspected of involvement in the uprising;

B.  whereas the government of Uzbekistan has not addressed any of the conditions the Council set out when sanctions were applied;

C.  whereas the Uzbek authorities often claim that opponents to the government's line are religious extremists, despite the fact that the Uzbek society is largely secular and that the limited religious extremism is fuelled rather by social injustice;

D.  whereas civil society in Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, increasingly demands a more open society, in which individual freedoms and human rights are fully respected, as well as changes toward democracy

E.  whereas the Council on October 2005 imposed EU sanctions against Uzbekistan, such as an embargo on exports of arms and equipment that might be used for the internal repression of Uzbekistanis and a travel ban in the 25 European Union states on Uzbek officials directly involved in the crackdown;

F.  whereas the Council has to decide on a review of EU sanctions against Uzbekistan at its General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting on 13-14 November;   

1.  Urges the Uzbek authorities to create the conditions for a full, independent and transparent investigation of the Andijan massacre, which should permit local human rights defenders to work free of fear of persecution;   

2.  Calls on the Council to renew the existing sanctions against Uzbekistan and on the European Parliament to extend its existing sanctions policy for an additional 12 months and further expand it by including an EU visa ban on President Islam Karimov, Minister of Interior Bahodir Matliubov, Minister of Defence Ruslan Mirzaev, Minister of Justice Buritosh Mustafaev, Prosecutor General Rashid Kodirov, Head of the National Securtiy Service Rustam Inoiatov, and Andijan Regional Governor Saidullo Begaliev;

3.  Calls for a freezing of assets of all those individuals who are subject to the visa ban, making it impossible for them to access any assets they may have in the EU or in any way use the banking system within the European Union;

4.  Calls on Uzbekistan to co-operate fully with the OSCE and with the UN, especially regarding the call for a credible and transparent independent enquiry;

5.  Urges the Uzbek President, Mr Karimov, to radically change his authoritarian policy and to engage in democratic reforms, including human rights promotion, free elections and accounting transparency

6.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, the President, Government and Parliament of Uzbekistan, the OSCE and the Secretary General of the United Nations.