EU Expects Concrete Steps From Uzbekistan

The Council of the EU on November 13 voted to extend for another 12 months the arms embargo imposed on Uzbekistan following the refusal of President Islam Karimov to let the bloc investigate last year's bloody military crackdown in Andijon. 

The bloc also decided to extend for a further six months a visa ban imposed on 12 Uzbek officials whom it holds responsible for the bloodshed. 

However, it voted to resume what it calls "technical meetings" with Karimov's government.

Solana told RFE/RL in Brussels that the decision was made possible after Uzbekistan took a number of steps toward the EU, which says it remains "profoundly concerned" by the human rights situation in that country. 

"We have to see that this acceptance in theory is really accepted in practice," Solana said, continuing that "if that is the case we will modify some of these sanctions."  

Solana did not elaborate on the "decisions" made by Uzbekistan. 

But earlier reports said Tashkent had agreed to initiate a human rights dialog with the EU and accepted to open bilateral expert-level talks on the events in Andijon last year.

Uzbek authorities say 187 people were killed in Andijon after what they describe as foreign-funded Islamists took control of the city.

Rights groups in turn say government troops killed hundreds of unarmed civilians while reasserting control over Andijon.