04/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - As part of dialogue with the EU on human rights, the Uzbek Parliament on 29 June approved a raft of measures aiming to abolish the death penalty, with effect from 1 January 2008, and to improve conditions for preventive detention. The European Commission welcomes this move, describing it as a “step in the right direction”. Since 2005, Uzbekistan has been observing a moratorium on the exercise of the death penalty. (aby)