PRESS RELEASE

Subject :

The EU opposes the death penalty in all cases and calls for its universal abolition. As a first step, the EU calls for moratoria on executions.

Where the death penalty still exists the EU insists that this penalty be only used according to the internationally accepted norms and standards.

The EU strongly deplores the execution of the six individuals sentenced to death following the bomb attack in February 1999 in Tashkent.

The EU considers that the abolition of the death penalty contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and the progressive development of human rights. It also constitutes a fundamental step towards democracy and protection of human rights in all countries which implement it.

The EU calls on the Government of Uzbekistan to refrain from the use of the death penalty and to take the necessary steps towards its abolition or, at least, the introduction of a moratorium.

The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union, the associated countries Cyprus and Malta and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this declaration.