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.

Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern said: “It was sending out the wrong signals. When you impose sanctions we should not remove them too lightly.”

The member states were divided on the issue but had they not agreed yesterday the sanctions would have lapsed in mid November without anything to take their place.

The Swedes proposed the compromise that they would the sanctions would be re-imposed if the country did not show it was making progress.

Ireland supports the demands by Human Rights Watch for an end to the crackdown on opposition politicians, independent journalists and human rights which has been ongoing since the May 2005 Adijan massacre.