LUXEMBOURG, October 27 (RIA Novosti) - European Union foreign ministers agreed on Tuesday to lift an embargo on arms supplies to Uzbekistan, a spokesman said.
The 27-member bloc imposed sanctions on Uzbekistan following a government crackdown on protesters in the eastern city of Andizhan in May 2005, when troops had killed some 200 people. The bulk of the sanctions were canceled in October last year, with only the arms embargo kept in place.
"To encourage the Uzbek authorities to take further substantive steps to improve the rule of law and the human rights situation...and taking into account their commitments, the council [of EU foreign ministers] decides not to renew the remaining restrictive measures," the foreign ministers said in a statement.
Today's move was made despite fears on the part of some EU members over the human rights situation in the Central Asian state.
In March 2009, Amnesty International urged Uzbekistan to reconsider its rejection of recommendations to investigate mass killings in Andizhan and to release human rights activists.
The EU has been moving to improve ties with Central Asian nations as it seeks secure energy supplies and less dependence on Russian gas and oil.
