Commissioner Patten to visit Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan

External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten is travelling to Central Asia from 15 to 19 March where he will meet government representatives of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Discussions will range over a broad agenda with each of the four countries concerned including bilateral relations, the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, and the need to accelerate the process of political and economic reforms. Throughout his visit Commissioner Patten will stress the benefits of greater regional co-operation as a means to consolidate democracy and foster economic prosperity.

Ahead of his trip, Commissioner Patten said "The Central Asian countries are of strategic importance to Europe and EU enlargement will allow us to strengthen political and economic ties with the region, while making clear that a sustainable and fruitful relationship requires tangible steps to consolidate civil rights and the rule of law".

The Commissioner will start his trip in Almaty on 15 March, where he will meet with representatives from civil society and NGOs that are working to promote respect for human rights and to strengthen democracy in the region. He will also deliver a keynote address on European Union (EU)-Central Asia relations to representatives from the diplomatic corps, the business community, civil society and the international community.

On 16 March, Commissioner Patten will travel to Astana where he will meet with President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Foreign Affairs Minister Kassymzhomart Tokayev and the speakers of the lower Kazak chamber. These meetings will provide an opportunity to express the EU's support to the Kazakh government's efforts to strengthen its relations with the EU and also to underline that stronger relations depend upon a greater commitment to European values regarding basic democratic principles and human rights.

On 17 March, the Commissioner will travel to Dushanbe where he will meet with President Emomali Rakhmonov and Prime Minister Akil Akilov. He will also visit the EC Regionalised Delegation in Dushanbe and he will meet with Delegation staff, ECHO staff and Technical Assistance staff.

Prior to flying to Bishkek, the Commissioner will have a working lunch with the EU Ambassadors, the Head of Mission of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Yves Bargain, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Co-ordinator William Paton, and the UN Representative Vladimir Sotirov.

Upon arrival in Bishkek, Commissioner Patten will meet with Prime Minister Nikolai Tanaev and local representatives from civil society and NGOs. On 18 March, prior to his departure to Tashkent, Commissioner Patten will meet with President Askar Akaev and Foreign Minister Askar Aitmatov.

Upon arrival in Uzbekistan, Commissioner Patten will meet with Foreign Affairs Minister Sodiq Safaev. Along with Deputy Prime Minister Elyor Ganiev, the Commissioner will then open an exhibition on '12 years of Tacis in Uzbekistan' at the Tashkent Europa House. He will then meet with President Islom Karimov. A joint press conference with Foreign Affairs Minister Safaev will be held after the meeting.

The Commissioner's trip will conclude on 19 March with a visit to Samarkand and a lunch with representatives from local authorities.

Background

Commissioner Patten's visit to Central Asia will be the first by a European Commissioner since Hans Van Den Broek visited in 1996. In the interim, relations between the European Union and the countries of Central Asia have been significantly strengthened, not least as global events have highlighted the need to work together in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking.

All four countries to be visited have negotiated a broad agreement with the EU, setting out their political, economic and trade relationship. These Partnership and Co-operation Agreements (PCA) entered into force with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan on 1st July 1999. A PCA was initialled with Tajikistan on 16th December 2003.

In terms of trade, the EU is now one of the largest trading partners of the region, ahead even of Russia. The EU's forthcoming enlargement will reinforce the role of the EU as the most important trading partner and investor.

The EC has provided more than €1 billion in assistance to Central Asia since 1992. These funds are delivered through a number of different means such as Tacis (technical assistance), ECHO (humanitarian assistance), macro-economic assistance and the Food Security Programme.

With a surface of more than 3,5 million km² and with 53 million inhabitants, the four countries to be visited are key partners for the EU. In the heart of Asia, the four landlocked Republics border China, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Russia and play an important strategic role (for example in the fight against drugs, terrorism and pollution), especially in the aftermath of conflict in Afghanistan.

For further information:

The EU's relations with Eastern Europe & Central Asia: Overview

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/ceeca/index.htm

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