Finns deliver warnings to Uzbekistan

Date: 09/09/1999

By Simon Taylor

THE EU will send a strong message to Uzbekistan to clean up its human rights record and introduce major economic reforms when the two sides meet next week.

Finnish Foreign Minister Tarja Halonen will use the first meeting under the auspices of EU's Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the central Asian republic next Monday (13 September) to criticise a recent decision to sentence to death six Islamic activists accused of being involved in an assassination attempt on President Karimov. She will also ask Prime Minister Utkir Sultanov for information about the disappearance of several human rights activists.

On behalf of the EU, the Finns will express concern about the conduct of forthcoming elections, warning that they may not recognise the results if improvements are not made to opposition groups' right to campaign.

Halonen will also tell the Uzbekis that the only way to address the country's economic woes, which include a 37% collapse in its currency last year and an inflation rate of 32%, is to scrap barriers which deter foreign investors.

According to a recent European Commission report, foreign firms have been put off by currency trading restrictions which cost companies up to 50% of their profits.

Uzbeki officials say next week's cooperation council will provide an opportunity to open a dialogue on these issues.

"The first council will be a turning point in our relations.

It provides a legal base for more effective developments," said one.

He added that the government was working to ensure elections were conducted as democratically as possible.

He also said that the government provided guarantees to foreign companies as an incentive to investment.