TeliaSonera's response
In its “Annual and Sustainability Report 2015” TeliaSonera stated the following:
“We continue to see our involuntary support and participation to the cotton harvest, which is not linked in any way to our business, as problematic and undesirable. In 2015, we will engage in close dialogue with human rights NGOs and other key stakeholders to define our position and approach.”
During the year, TeliaSonera has had an extensive dialogue with many stakeholders, including some NGOs and relevant parts of the UN system, especially the ILO, the World Bank, the European Union and representatives of the Uzbek administration. We have explained that, in view of its sustainability policies, TeliaSonera is not in a position to support directly or indirectly the cotton harvest, and that the company’s ambition is to concentrate its contribution to the economic development of Uzbekistan by focusing on developing information communication and technologies.