Parliament calls on EU to put human rights at centre of relations with countries of region

Brussels, 22/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - In its adoption, by a large majority, of a report on European strategy in Central Asia, on Wednesday 20 February, the European Parliament has voiced its concern at the human rights and democracy situation in most of the five countries of the region (Kazakhstan, Kyrgzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan). In the view of the rapporteur, Cem Özdemir (Greens-EFA, Germany), Kyrgzstan “shows more hope, despite the persistence of certain problems”. In a press release published after the vote, he stated that the EU's approach to Central Asia has completely failed as far as the promotion of democracy is concerned. He added that “democracy and human rights must be an integral part of the EU's strategy in Central Asia and the partnerships with these countries should be envisaged only with those which are clearly committed in this direction”.

The report of the EP welcomes the increased attention granted by the Union to Central Asia, but notes that the projects are being implemented only very slowly. It calls on EU policy to differentiate as regards its approach to the counties of the region, on the basis of the human rights situation of each country, amongst other things. The MEPs also call on the Council and the Commission to “ensure that issues related to human rights are considered to have equal weight with those regarding energy, security and trade, all of which are fields in which the Union is taking a vigorous approach”. Certain questions can be dealt with effectively only by means of regionalised approaches leading to regional solutions (anti-terrorism, putting an end to the trafficking in human beings, the fight against drugs, the management of water), it stresses. The MEPs also flagged up ill treatment meted out to women, and the scale of work being carried out by children in several countries of the region, and stress that health and health-care reforms in the public sector must be a priority for the donors. They also made specific observations for the five countries concerned. (A.B.)