Brussels, 24/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - Following massive criticism by several human rights organisations, the European Commission sought on Monday 24 January to defend the meeting that same afternoon between José Manuel Barroso and Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov by saying it wanted to maintain a “critical dialogue” with Uzbekistan, where the priority is firmly on human rights. Criticism accusing the Commission president of turning a Nelson eye to human rights abuses in Uzbekistan and to have agreed to meet the Uzbek president, responsible for the Andijan massacre in May 2005, simply so as not to compromise the EU's energy interests were “unfounded”, the Commission's spokeswoman told press. “Human rights are not negotiable. They are high on our list of points for discussion” with Karimov, she said, adding that Barroso was also going to raise “individual cases” of imprisoned dissidents. There was, then, no question of the meeting being a trade-off” between human rights, the energy and trade interests, the spokeswoman argued. Two other issues featured in the discussions between Barroso and Karimov - the signing of a memorandum of understanding on energy and the forthcoming opening of an EU delegation in Tashkent. No press conference was organised after the meeting, officially because of “other commitments”. Permanent President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy (whose spokesman also spoke of prior commitments), High Representative Catherine Ashton and the Belgian authorities all declined to meet the Uzbek president whom human rights organisations qualify as a “despot”. A meeting was scheduled, however, with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
“Critical dialogue”. Maintaining a “critical and conditional dialogue” with the Uzbek regime is the best way of bringing pressure for reform, including in human rights, the Commission spokeswoman argued. Such an approach is consistent with the political approach agreed by member states. In conclusions adopted on 25 October 2010, the Foreign Affairs Council said it was extremely concerned by the general situation on human rights, on democratisation and on the rule of law in Uzbekistan. It called on Uzbek authorities immediately to take concrete steps to make progress in these areas, including releasing human rights activists and prisoners of conscience being held under detention, allowing NGOs to work without hindrance or obstruction and guaranteeing freedom of expression and freedom of the media. In their conclusions, member states also repeated their desire generally to improve relations with Uzbekistan, highlighting that the extent and quality of dialogue and cooperation would depend on the reforms and progress towards democracy achieved in Uzbekistan.
“This visit brings shame on the EU and the West”, AFP quoted Mutabar Tadjibaieva, an Uzbek dissident imprisoned and tortured in Uzbekistan before being released in 2008, as saying. Along with around 20 activists from the NGO Amnesty International, she came to demonstrate outside the European Commission on Monday. According to the association Human Rights in Central Asia, 39 detainees died last year after being tortured in Uzbek jails. (H.B./transl.rt)