BRUSSELS - The EU looks with "great concern at the developments" of the crisis in Kazakhstan.
"The rights and safety of civilians must be guaranteed".
The EU High Representative for Foreign Policy
Josep Borrell
writes in a tweet ,
underlining how
"external military aid brings to mind situations that must be avoided".
Europe, emphasizes Borrell, "is ready to lend its support to tackle the crisis".
The intervention of Russian troops and Kazakhstan's allies to suppress protests underway in the country "should respect Kazakhstan's sovereignty and independence". An EU spokesperson for foreign affairs
and security policy said this morning after sending the 'peacekeepers' of the CSTO alliance, which brings together Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, to Kazakhstan. "The EU condemns the acts of violence that took place in Almaty and deplores the loss of human life", said the spokesperson, appealing for the violence to stop and calling for "moderation" and a "peaceful resolution" of the crisis.
Europe is looking with "great concern" at the situation that has arisen in Kazakhstan, where there is a risk that social tensions will turn into a political crisis,
underline sources of the French EU presidency.
Paris has assumed the role of leadership of the EU for the third time for six months since last January 1st.
The Kazakhstan dossier will be one of the topics at the center of the talks that the EU high representative Josep Borrell will have today and tomorrow in the French capital with the government of Emmanuel Macron
.
The French presidency also reiterated the need to pursue dialogue with Moscow "but in a determined and demanding manner" since many of Putin's recent proposals to establish new spheres of influence are "unacceptable".