EU says Uzbeks make progress on rights

By David Brunnstrom

BRUSSELS, Sept 16 (Reuters) - European Union President France cited progress on human rights in Uzbekistan on Tuesday but said there was scope for further improvement, two months before EU sanctions on the country are due to expire.

The bloc imposed sanctions on Uzbekistan in 2005 including visa bans on top officials in response to the killing of demonstrators in the town of Andijan that May.

The sanctions have been suspended but are due to completely expire in November unless there is unanimous agreement by the EU's Council of 27 states to continue them.

"It's a matter for Council to debate...but we do observe that progress have been made," French Secretary of State for European Affairs Jean-Pierre Jouyet told a news conference after talks with Uzbek Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov.

Jouyet cited abolition of the death penalty and introduction of habeas corpus, adding: "There is always room for improvement. We hope that the Uzbek authorities will do so."

Jouyet said the EU would discuss the issue next week and address regional aspects such as the Russian intervention in Georgia which has reinforced EU concerns about energy security.

Germany has led an EU push to improve ties with Central Asian states, including gas-rich Uzbekistan, to secure future energy supplies. It wants the sanctions dropped despite concerns of rights groups which say progress has not been sufficient.

Berlin also wants to protect interests including a military base in Uzbekistan used to supply its troops stationed in Afghanistan as part of the NATO mission there.

Aside from the visa bans, the EU has also imposed an arms embargo and EU officials said it was possible this would be kept even if the visa bans ended. (Editing by Ralph Boulton)