EU member states have opted to drop an arms embargo against Uzbekistan in a move seen as dishonest and depressing by human rights campaigners, reported EU Observer.

EU diplomats meeting in Brussels on Tuesday (20 October) adopted the decision which is to be rubber-stamped without discussion by foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday.

"With a view to encouraging the Uzbek authorities to take further substantive steps to improve the rule of law and human rights situation on the ground and taking into consideration their commitments, the Council decides not to renew the remaining restrictive measures set out in the Council Common Position [of 2008]," the ministers'' draft statement says.

The statement is to "welcome" certain "positive steps taken over the past year" by way of justification, listing among other points Uzbekistan''s participation in EU dialogues on human rights and rule of law, releases of selected human rights defenders, introduction of habeas corpus and ratification of anti-child labour conventions.

Under EU procedure, the arms embargo was due to expire in November unless renewed by a consensus of all 27 states.

But Germany signaled early on in discussions that it would not agree to a renewal, saying the sanctions have done their job over the past four years by motivating Uzbekistan to open talks on reform.