The European Parliament,

-   having regard to its previous resolutions on the Central Asian Republics and Uzbekistan, particularly that of 9 June 2005(1),

-   having regard to its resolution of 28 April 2005 on the Annual Report on Human Rights in the World 2004 and the EU's policy on the matter(2),

-   having regard to its resolution of 24 February 2005 on the EU's priorities and recommendations for the 61st session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva (14 March to 22 April 2005)(3),

-   having regard to the report from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR) on the events in Andijan,

-   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 General Affairs and External Relations Council of 23 May, 13 June, 18 July and 3 October 2005,

-   having regard to the Commission's Strategy Paper for Central Asia 2002-2006 ,

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

A.   whereas the Government of Uzbekistan has not yet allowed any independent inquiry to be held into the events of 13 May 2005 in Andijan; whereas, according to reports by human rights organisations, an indeterminate number of civilians - several hundred, according to some witnesses - were shot dead and an even greater number injured by 'government security forces',

B.   whereas international human rights organisations have denounced the arrest of thousands of people in order to cover up the truth, whereas the people in detention are at serious risk of being subjected to torture and other ill-treatment and whereas many have been charged with capital offences and risk being sentenced to death following an unfair trial,

C.   whereas most independent local journalists and human rights activists are being subjected to intimidation by the security services or have been expelled from the country,

D.   whereas the Uzbek authorities decided to postpone the 6th EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee meeting which was to have been attended by a European Parliament delegation wishing to travel to Andijan and to meet with non-governmental organisations and people involved in the events,

E.   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 rebellion in Andijan,

F.   whereas Leandro Despouy, UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, has expressed his doubts about the fairness of the trial and called for access to the defendants,

G.   whereas a group of 439 Uzbek refugees fleeing to the Kyrgyz border after the uprising of 13 May 2005 have been transferred to a UN camp in Romania; whereas the situation of the remaining refugees remains unclear,

H.   whereas the development of civil society is a basic step towards providing the country with a functioning democracy, stability and social cohesion, which is essential to effectively fight any risk of religious extremism,

I.   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, as well as real progress towards democracy,

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

2.  Condemns the refusal by the Government of Uzbekistan to provide transparency and its withdrawal from external contact, and stresses how important it is for an international committee of inquiry to have the opportunity to clarify immediately the circumstances surrounding the events of May 2005 in the Andijan region and to freely attend the trials which are under way;

3.  Reiterates the importance of EU-Uzbekistan relations and continued dialogue, and recognises 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, the rule of law and human rights as clearly laid down in the above-mentioned EU-Uzbekistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement;

4.  Welcomes and supports the decision taken at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting on 3 October 2005 to impose an embargo on the export to Uzbekistan of arms and military equipment and other equipment that might be used for internal repression, to introduce restrictions on the admission to the EU of Uzbek nationals directly responsible for the Andijan repression and to suspend sine die all scheduled technical meetings under the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, as well as the Commission's reorientation and reduction of its TACIS programme in order to support an increased focus on the needs of the population, democracy and human rights as well as fostering links with Uzbek civil society;

5.  Urges the Government of Uzbekistan to release all human rights activists, 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.  Calls for freedom of the press to be restored, which entails the abandonment of the judicial measures taken against national media and NGOs which wish to promote pluralism of information; condemns all obstacles to citizens' freedom of expression;

7.  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, who should be allowed unrestricted access to the proceedings; takes note of the decision of the Uzbek authorities to allow OSCE observers to attend these trials;

8.  Expects the Uzbek authorities to facilitate a visit to Andijan and meetings between Members taking part in the 6th EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee and the opposition, NGOs and the independent media;

9.  Calls on the Kyrgyz authorities not to deport arrested refugees as long as the Uzbek Government cannot guarantee an independent and fair trial and grant humanitarian organisations access to those under arrest;

10.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EU Special Representative for Central Asia, the Presidents, Governments and Parliaments of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary General of the OSCE.

(1) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2005)0239. (2) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2005)0150. (3) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2005)0051.