SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SUMMIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 003060 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA, EAP/CM E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2017 TAGS: PREL PTER AF ZK KG CH SUBJECT: SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SUMMIT INVITATIONS PENDING; AFGHANISTAN WILL BE INVITED Classified By: Political External Unit Chief Edgard Kagan. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretariat political staff member Li Yan confirmed to poloff May 8 that invitations for the August 15-16, 2007 summit meeting of SCO heads of state in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan have not yet been issued. Separately, Chinese Foreign Ministry Deputy Director for SCO Affairs Yan Wenbin told poloff that Afghan President Karzai will be invited to the summit, consistent with Afghanistan's liaison relationship with the SCO. Heads of State of the six SCO member nations and four admitted observers (Iran, Pakistan, Mongolia and India) would also be invited, Yan said. ¶2. (C) MFA's Wen said SCO members continue to discuss whether to invite representatives of other entities who participated in last year's fifth anniversary SCO summit, such as the Commonwealth of Independent States or the European Union, and how to involve others that have requested, but have not yet received, observer status. SCO Secretariat official Li told poloff that invitations would be issued soon, but that the process would be handled by the Kyrgyz hosts. RANDT