EU ministers defend decision to lift sanctions

EUROPEAN Foreign Ministers were accused of capitulating to the repressive regime in Uzbekistan after they agreed to lift sanctions imposed following the massacre of hundreds of human rights protesters over two years ago.

But the ministers defended their position by saying that the sanctions can be re-imposed if Uzbekistan does not show it is making progress on a range of issues including releasing human rights protestors from prison and giving UN officials the right to enter the country and evaluate the situation for themselves.

Human rights groups praised Ireland for holding out against the initial decision to lift the sanctions without the review clause.