We can name as recent examples the statements given by US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright during and after her visit to Tashkent in April 2000, as well as the resolution of the US House of Representatives On Central Asian Countries from November 2, 2000. Among the first actions of the government was denying registration to opposition and human rights organizations. The OSCE did little to influence the development. We are aware of numerous appeals by OSCE leaders and member countries to the president and government of Uzbekistan to abolish mass repression, to start real democratic changes, to guarantee human rights and freedom of religion. We are also aware that the government of Uzbekistan has ignored those appeals and suggestions, hiding behind the doctrine of non-interference in internal affairs of a sovereign country.
Human rights are intrinsic for every human being.
Uzbekistan signed the Declaration passed at the OSCE Istanbul summit in November 1999, which stressed that violations of human rights cannot be considered internal affairs and that the international community cannot ignore them. That circumstance allows the OSCE and its members to take practical steps towards holding Uzbekistan accountable for its international obligations.