The German Embassy in Tashkent, speaking for the European Union's current German presidency, confirmed that talks were taking place today. No further details have been provided.
Brussels is due to decide in May whether to continue EU sanctions imposed after the Uzbek Army's violent crackdown in the eastern Uzbek city of Andijon. The EU has called for an independent inquiry in exchange for lifting sanctions.
(AFP)
Andijon Anniversary Conference
Violence in Andijon, Uzbekistan, on May 14, 2005 (epa)
TALKING ABOUT ANDIJON: On May 9, 2006, RFE/RL, the National Endowment for Democracy, and U.S.-based human rights organizations cohosted a conference on the May 2005 events in Andijon and their aftermath in Uzbekistan and throughout the region. The first panel featured Andijon eyewitness
GALIMA BUKHARBAEVA, National Endowment for Democracy Fellow
NOZIMA KAMALOVA, RFE/RL Central Asia analyst
DANIEL KIMMAGE, and others. The second panel featured presentations by U.S. Senator
JOHN MCCAIN and U.S. Congressman
CHRISTOPHER SMITH, who used the forum to announce they had introduced legislation calling for sanctions and other measures against the government of President Islam Karimov.
LISTEN
Listen to the Andijon conference. Part One (70 minutes):Real Audio Windows MediaPart Two (60 minutes):Real Audio Windows MediaThe Uzbek government's response:Real Audio Windows Media
THE COMPLETE STORY: A dedicated webpage bringing together all of RFE/RL's coverage of the events in Andijon, Uzbekistan, in May 2005 and their continuing repercussions.
CHRONOLOGY
For an annotated timeline of the Andijon events and their repercussions, click here.