Berlin - The European Union's German presidency welcomed Friday the decision the previous day by Kyrgyzstan to scrap the death penalty as an "important step."It said the European Union's goal was the worldwide abolition of the death penalty.
"The introduction of suspended sentences and the strengthening of the courts are major contributions towards enhancing human rights in Kyrgyzstan," said a statement from Berlin.
"The country is thereby underlining its determination to respect international human-rights standards and live up to its commitments."
The central Asian republic's President Kurmanbek Bakiyev signed a law Thursday for the "humanization" of criminal law.
