EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and the French and Slovenian foreign ministers will meet their Central Asian counterparts in the Turkmen capital, Ashgabat, for talks Wednesday and Thursday on issues ranging from fuel to democracy.
"Implementation [of EU strategy] is well under way and the EU is working with partners in the region on joint priorities papers detailing future action," the EU said in a statement ahead of the talks, likely to be held behind closed doors.
Home to some of the world's biggest oil and gas reserves, the region -- which includes Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan -- is prone to authoritarian rule and most of its states have been criticized in the West over their records on democracy and human rights.
Some rights activists and opposition politicians have accused the West of putting energy above democracy in their Central Asia contacts, a charge that Western governments have denied.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.