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Thu Dec 14 13:16:07 2006
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EU experts see Uzbek prisoners in Andizhan probe
14 Dec 2006 13:14:20 GMT
Source: Reuters
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By David Brunnstrom

BRUSSELS, Dec 14 (Reuters) - EU experts looking into deaths in protests in Uzbekistan last year have met prisoners, lawyers and officials in what a member of the team called a positive step towards improved ties.

The European Union imposed sanctions on ex-Soviet Uzbekistan last year after accusing it of using indiscriminate force to quash a revolt in the town of Andizhan in May 2005, but agreed in November to review the measures in February.

The bloc has restricted military sales, banned the issuing of visas to 12 top Uzbek officials and partially suspended bilateral dialogue.

Uzbekistan recently offered to discuss human rights and the crackdown, and last month the EU member states, while still "profoundly concerned" about the rights situation, decided to resume low-level contacts.

A statement from the Finnish EU presidency said a team from the presidency, the executive European Commission, Germany, Britain, France and Sweden had met prisoners, lawyers and local officials in Tashkent and Andijan from Dec. 12 to 14.

"This is a positive development," said Antti Turunen, head of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia unit of the Finnish Foreign Ministry and a member of the team.

"We will have to see how this dialogue can be developed," he told Reuters. "The atmosphere was good and, in my personal view, there could be some technical cooperation as a follow-up."

He said the team had met "two or three" prisoners, but gave no details of these talks. The team will prepare a report to be given to EU member states early in 2007.

Witnesses say hundreds of people were killed on May 13, 2005, among them women and children, when troops opened fire on a protest in Andizhan. Uzbekistan blamed the riot on Islamist extremists and said most of the dead were armed insurgents.

More than 180 people accused of involvement in the incidents remain in jail.

Rights activists have expressed concern that Germany, seeking to boost cooperation with Central Asia in the interests of secure energy supplies, is pushing for sanctions to be eased, while others such as Britain have resisted the move.

Analysts say the sanctions have done little to ease President Islam Karimov's authoritarian rule, but have helped push the gas-rich state closer to Russia at a time when the EU is nervous about energy supplies.

Analysts say Germany is also anxious to maintain its military base at Termez in Uzbekistan, which is important for logistical support for its troops in Afghanistan.

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