Date of release : 01-02-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

Event : EU-Ouzbekistan Cooperation Council

Alongside the meeting of the "General Affairs and External Relations Council" of 31 January – 1 February 2005, Jean Asselborn, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration and President in Office of the Council of the European Union, today, Tuesday, led the EU's delegation at the EU-Uzbekistan Cooperation Council.

This Cooperation Council was the opportunity for the Presidency to reaffirm the Union’s will to strengthen its political relations with Uzbekistan as well as economic and trade relations.

At the end of the Cooperation Council’s meeting, Minister Asselborn stated: "We discussed the main developments in the implementation of the EU-Uzbekistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which came into effect on 1 July 1999. We have set the priorities for the next five years."

The Cooperation Council noted that it was important that the Uzbek authorities comply fully with international standards on the rule of law, democracy and human rights. The European Union reiterated its opposition to the use of the death penalty, still applicable in some cases in Uzbekistan. In this respect, Jean Asselborn underscored that "the Uzbek authorities have demonstrated the will to move in the right direction and that it is remarkable to arrive at such as result through dialogue."

The President of the Council welcomed "Uzbek efforts to strengthen regional integration in Central Asia."

With regard to the "Justice and Home Affairs" component, the Minister was very pleased "with the cooperation between the EU and Uzbekistan, including cooperation in the fight against terrorism, drugs and organised crime," before concluding "finally, at the working breakfast, we discussed the political and regional aspects of EU-Uzbekistan relations."

Finally, the Cooperation Council emphasized the importance of Uzbekistan’s active commitment to the reconstruction of Afghanistan and the international coalition against terrorism.