(Updates with statement) By David Brunnstrom LUXEMBOURG, April 23 (Reuters) - A top EU official welcomed Uzbekistan's agreement to enter a human rights dialogue with the European Union as "a step forward" on Monday as the bloc studied plans for closer ties with energy-rich Central Asia. Rights groups have urged the EU to make sure rights take priority in its strategy for the region and have called for it not to lift sanctions on Uzbekistan when they are reviewed in May, saying this could trigger further repression. EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said it was too early to say what decision would be taken on the sanctions but welcomed Uzbekistan's readiness to discuss rights. "I think this is at least one step forward," she told a news briefing, adding that she hoped to see the dialogue start before the May 14 sanctions review. "It will be very important because it is the first time ever that such a human rights dialogue takes place." Ferrero-Waldner said it was important to engage the region, stressing competition for influence with Russia and China. The European Union restricted arms sales and banned visas for top Uzbek officials after forces quashed a revolt in 2005. Witnesses say hundreds of people, including women and children, were killed. Uzbekistan says most were armed insurgents. Ferrero-Waldner was speaking at a meeting of foreign ministers from the 27 EU states, who discussed a plan by EU President Germany to boost ties with Central Asian states, also including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. A draft of the German Central Asia plan seen by Reuters noted a need for the EU to diversify energy supplies and regular dialogue with Central Asia at the foreign minister level. It also called for discussion on human rights and offered support for education, as well as oil and gas exploration, with a view to building new pipelines. A statement said the ministers agreed to intensify cooperation with the Central Asian states on an individual and regional basis in fields ranging from rights and rule of law to energy and trade, and expressed hope the dialogue on rights could be held with Uzbekistan as soon as possible. The ministers also noted "promising" first steps in social and educational reform by Turkmenistan and encouraged more. They said they would seek to adopt the German plan at a June summit. New York York-based Human Rights Watch said last week the European Union must make respect for rights an integral part of the strategy. It noted that if anything Uzbekistan had shown a hardening, not an improvement, in its stance. After talks with EU ministers who visited Central Asia last month to promote the German plan, Uzbek Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov told the Europeans he was ready for more dialogue, but not lectures on human rights.
