Press Group Urges Continued EU Sanctions On Uzbekistan

(RFE/RL)

May 11, 2001 -- An international media-rights watchdog today urged the European Union to maintain sanctions it imposed against Uzbekistan after the Uzbek government's bloody crackdown on a 2005 uprising.

The appeal by Reporters Without Borders comes just days before the second anniversary of the May 13 violence in Andijon.

The Paris-based group said Europe should not sacrifice the defense of human rights for the sake of gaining access to energy resources in Uzbekistan.

The European Council is to review the sanctions on May 14.

(AP)