Brussels, 02/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - "The European Union is deeply concerned about recent clashes in Jalal-Abad, province of Kyrgyzstan, and the violent repression by the Kyrgyz law enforcement forces of the demonstrations in support of MP Azimbek Beknazarov, currently on trial, causing at least 5 dead and an unknown number of wounded. The European Union calls on the Kyrgyz authorities to investigate these events and bring all culprits to justice and reiterates the need to hold the trial of MP Beknazarov with all the guarantees, and to react to the demonstrations in support of the MP with the means in inherent to the rule of Law and the full respect of human rights. The European Union welcomes the decision taken by the Kyrgyzstan's courts to release MP Beknazarov and it hopes that this decision will contribute to calm the situation. The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union, the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and Liechtenstein and Norway, EFTA countries members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration ".