Luxemburg, 23/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - In its conclusions adopted on Monday, the Council expressed its satisfaction at the agreement by the Foreign Ministers in Astana to intensify cooperation between the EU and the five Central Asian countries. Following the EU Troika meeting with five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) in Astana on 28 March 2007 (see EUROPE 9397), the EU has decided to strengthen cooperation “on an individual and regional basis”. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who chaired the Council, said that “Europeans have some catching up to do” in this region where the Russians, Chinese, Japanese, Turks and Americans were already present. “The importance of the region goes beyond economic issues,” he told press, stressing the important role that can be played by these countries in combating drug trafficking and in the fight against religious extremism. For Europeans, “The defence of pluralism and human rights are close to our hearts,” he added, before saying that initiatives in health and training would be the priorities, and “of course, we will strengthen the energy dialogue”. Following a first exchange of views, Ministers decided on the areas to be included in the EU strategy with Central Asian countries, which is due to be adopted by the European Council in June: rule of law, human rights, and democratisation; education; energy and transport; environment; trade and economic development cooperation; regional security challenges, such as border management, combating drug trafficking and organised crime.
The conclusions also made mention of individual issues. The Council hopes thus that the dialogue on human rights between the EU and Uzbekistan will be able to start as quickly as possible. Ministers did not, however, have an exchange on whether or not to renew sanctions against Uzbekistan, a matter that will be decided in May. It also took note of promising first reform steps taken by the new Turkmen government in the education and social systems, and encouraged all political forces in the Kyrgyz Republic to pursue a political dialogue with a view to undertaking the necessary reform to strengthen the constitutional, legal and administrative systems. (ab)