BRUSSELS - The European Union's executive arm urged the Uzbek government Tuesday to rein in a military clampdown in the ex-Soviet republic, while reiterating its deep concern at the continuing unrest.
But the European Commission declined to speculate about whether the deadly crackdown will have any impact on relations between the EU and Tashkent, which receives some 10 million euros (12.5 million dollars) aid per year.
"We are following the events very, very closely. We are deeply concerned by what we see and what we hear," said Emma Udwin, spokeswoman for EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
She reiterated a call made last week "for the authorities to return to dialogue and reconciliation, and to desist from the use of force... We hope that the current situation can be calmed by restraint from all sides."
She was speaking as Uzbekistan's autocratic leader Islam Karimov faced increasing international pressure over the reported toll from a military crackdown in the eastern town of Andijan, which rose to 745 on Tuesday.
Four days after soldiers fired into crowds protesting against Karimov's iron-fisted rule, the Soviet-era leader found himself facing rare tough words from the United States, which considers him an ally in its war on terror.
The EU spokeswoman declined to say if the Tashkent clampdown could harm its ties with the EU. She noted that a cooperation accord between the EU and Uzbekistan includes pledges to respect human rights and the rule of law.
But she rebuffed a suggestion that the EU could respond negatively to the clampdown in any concrete way. "We are not reflecting in that spirit at the moment," she said.
"We're doing our level best to help the authorities to resolve this by dialogue and not by armed conflict," she added.
05/17/2005 12:26 GMT