Uzbek Foreign Minister To Hold Talks In Brussels

Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov (archive photo)

Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov is expected to attend a regular meeting of the EU-Uzbekistan Cooperation Council in the Belgian capital, Brussels, on March 17.

The meeting should be chaired by Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos.

Uzbekistan's Foreign Ministry announced on March 16 that the Uzbek delegation will also hold talks with EU and Belgian officials. No more details have been provided.

Relations between Uzbekistan and the EU have been governed by a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement since 1999.

Ties became strained after Tashkent's violent dispersal of antigovernment protesters in the eastern city of Andijon in 2005 that left scores dead.

The EU reacted to the deadly crackdown by imposing sanctions and an arms embargo against Tashkent.

Remaining sanctions were lifted in 2009.

Based on reporting by mfa.uz and ca-news.org