EU keeps sanctions on Uzbekistan suspended
BRUSSELS, April 29 (Reuters) - European Union foreign ministers agreed on Tuesday to keep sanctions on Uzbekistan suspended for another six months, but warned they could be reapplied if human rights conditions do not improve.
EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg said they remained seriously concerned about the rights situation in Uzbekistan, but they welcomed progress, including abolition of the death penalty and the release of some rights activists.
"With a view to encouraging the Uzbek authorities to take substantive steps to improve the human rights situation and taking into account their commitments, the Council decided that visa restrictions for individuals ... would not apply for another period of six months," their statement said.
"After three months, the Council will review the progress made by the Uzbek authorities," it added.
"The Council will closely and continuously monitor and assess ... the human rights situation in Uzbekistan and may lift, amend or reapply the visa restrictions as appropriate."
The EU imposed visa bans on senior Uzbek officials after witnesses said troops killed hundreds of people, including women and children, when they opened fire on unarmed protesters in the town of Andizhan in May 2005.
Germany led a push to drop the sanctions. Last October EU foreign ministers agreed to suspend them for six months, while warning they would be automatically reapplied if there was not progress on human rights and democracy.
Analysts say Germany is keen to protect its interests in Uzbekistan, including a military base used to supply its troops stationed in Afghanistan as part of a NATO mission there.
Those still on the suspended visa ban list are Defence Minister Ruslan Mirzayev and seven others including National Security chief Rustam Inoyatov.
Rights groups had called on the EU not to allow the sanctions to lapse as they are due to in October without ensuring more progress.
They say that while there have been some improvements, serious rights issues remain and Uzbekistan still has not ensured accountability for Andizhan -- the main reason the sanctions were imposed in the first place.
Uzbekistan says 187 people, all guerrillas or "terrorists", were killed in a police action against Islamist extremists in the town.
