Ad
Uzbekistan: A strategic ally for Germany in Afghanistan and a popular destination for European tourists (Photo: Wikipedia)

Germany takes heat for EU decision on Uzbek arms embargo

EU ministers have lifted an arms embargo on Uzbekistan in a decision that has little to do with human rights and a lot to do with German military co-operation with the Central Asian dictatorship, analysts believe.

The EU statement on Tuesday (27 October) said the union is "seriously concerned" about human rights abuses in Uzbekistan and would "assess progress" in EU-Uzbek relations one year down the line, while scrapping the arms ban.

The embargo was imposed in 2005 after Uzbek s...

Get EU news that matters

Back our independent journalism by becoming a supporting member

Already a member? Login here

Author Bio

Andrew Rettman is EUobserver's Foreign Affairs Editor. He has been writing about foreign and security affairs for EUobserver since 2005. He is Polish but grew up in the UK. He has also written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, and The Times of London.

Uzbekistan: A strategic ally for Germany in Afghanistan and a popular destination for European tourists (Photo: Wikipedia)

Tags

Author Bio

Andrew Rettman is EUobserver's Foreign Affairs Editor. He has been writing about foreign and security affairs for EUobserver since 2005. He is Polish but grew up in the UK. He has also written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, and The Times of London.

Ad
Ad