Date of release : 23-05-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

Event : General Affairs and External Relations Council

Following the Council on General Affairs and External Relations, Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister and the current President of the Council of the European Union addressed the situation in Uzbekistan, and more specifically the recent events in Andijan. He stated:

"In the light of these extremely serious developments and in order to send an unequivocal message to the Uzbek authorities, the Council has decided to adopt conclusions on the events in Eastern Uzbekistan. These conclusions express both the EU’s grave concern regarding the situation in this part of the country and its strong condemnation of the Uzbek government authorities’ disproportionate use of force. We are deeply disappointed that the Uzbek government refuses to allow an independent international inquiry on the events, as was demanded by the UN, and ask the government to reconsider this decision. Furthermore, the Council calls on the authorities to implement with urgency internal reforms necessary to deal with the underlying causes of this instability".