KYRGYZ STAND READY FOR SCO SUMMIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001015

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ STAND READY FOR SCO SUMMIT

REF: A. BISHKEK 377


B. BISHKEK 925

C. BISHKEK 908

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Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Following months of intense preparation,
Kyrgyz officials claim they are ready for the 7th annual
Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit on August 16. The
Kyrgyz Government has worked feverishly to ensure all
logistical and functional aspects of the summit -- from
paving roads and scheduling flights to building guest houses
and installing streetlamps -- are in place well before the
dignitaries arrive. With a series of road closures and
flight cancellations expected during the summit, there will
be disruptions in the city of Bishkek, and to the operating
schedules at the Manas Airport, Manas Air Base, Embassy
Bishkek. And given the importance of the summit to
Kyrgyzstan, even the political opposition has said it will
refrain from any demonstrations during the summit. END
SUMMARY.

A CAPITAL POLISHED
--------------


2. (SBU) Although aware of its hosting responsibilities for
over a year, the Kyrgyz Government began serious preparations
for the August 16 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
summit only a few months prior to the event (reftel A). At
the August 3 official opening for three large guesthouses and
a reception hall (built at breakneck speed using laborers and
finances provided by China),and with the repaving of many
roads, including the main road to Manas International
Airport, completed, President Bakiyev pronounced his country
ready to host the largest summit ever held in Kyrgyzstan.


3. (SBU) In addition to paving roads and sidewalks along the
motorcade routes, the Philharmonic (which will host a gala
concert the afternoon of August 16) has been completely
refurbished inside and out, working streetlamps and fountains
have been installed, building facades have received a fresh
coat of paint, and posters depicting all six SCO heads of
state and touting summit slogans have been hung on billboards
throughout the city. "To ensure public safety," stores and
kiosks along the main motorcade routes will be prohibited
from selling alcohol until the summit is over. Private taxis
will also be banned within central Bishkek, presumably to
limit the amount of cars on the road. Hotels, including the
Hyatt, have been booked solid as well, as Bishkek readies
itself for the large delegations that will accompany each
visiting head of state. In all, 14 motorcade delegations and
10 heads of government are expected to participate in the
summit.

AIR AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC HERDED
--------------


4. (C) In a meeting with DCM and Manas Airbase officials
August 8, representatives from the Kyrgyz Ministries of
Foreign Affairs and Defense, and the Presidential
Administration, laid out the routes each motorcade will
follow, de-conflicted flight schedules to ensure that OEF
operations are not disturbed, and coordinated ground security
plans at the airport. The base has agreed that coalition
aircraft would fly only at night, from 1900-0700, and the
base confirmed that schedules would be adjusted if
SCO-related aircraft needed clearance during that time. The
Kyrgyz noted that commercial flights that conflict with SCO
departure/arrival times would be canceled, but that
international flights, most of which arrive in the middle of
the night, would not be affected. The Kyrgyz side also
explained that major roads between the airport, the
Presidential Administration, and the Presidential guest
houses will be closed during the summit and while visiting

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delegations arrive to and depart Bishkek. Practice runs were
made along the airport road, as well as the main road leading
to the Presidential Residence (which passes directly in front
of the Embassy),on July 28 and August 10. Such closures
will undoubtedly cause major traffic jams, with expectations
that Embassy operations could be disrupted on August 15, and
16 as a result. (NOTE: An EAC will be held August 13, to
discuss road closures and the potential for disruption to
Embassy operations. END NOTE.)

AN AGENDA PROPOSED
--------------


5. (SBU) Following the SCO's Council of Foreign Ministers
meeting on July 10, Kyrgyz FM Ednan Karabayev announced that
the signing of a treaty on "long-term good-neighborliness,
friendship and cooperation" would be one of the summit's main
objectives. Noting that the SCO should play an important
role in "ensuring security," FM Karabayev said that
member-states would seek to increase the organization's
relations with observer-states, and "expand a dialogue" with
Afghanistan. Further to Karabayev's announcement, President
Bakiyev said publicly that the summit's agenda will also
include a discussion on the fulfillment of previous
SCO-related agreements; regional and global issues; and a
signing of eight documents on enhancing partnership, cultural
cooperation, and interaction between the SCO Business Council
and banking structures.

A LIST OF ATTENDEES ANNOUNCED
--------------


6. (C) In addition to the heads of all six SCO member-states,
Mongolian President Enkhbayar, Pakistani FM Kasuri, Indian FM
Mukherjee, and Iranian President Ahmadinejad are expected to
attend as observers -- with the latter already calling for
closer cooperation with the SCO. While undoubtedly hopeful
that stronger economic ties can be attained with Iran, the
Kyrgyz have already signaled their wariness regarding
Ahmadinejad's penchant for making outrageous remarks during
such events (see reftels B and C). During an August 10
meeting with the Ambassador, the President's Chief of Staff
Medet Sadyrkulov said the Kyrgyz have made clear to the
Iranians they expect them to be constructive, although he
admitted he was not certain what to expect.


7. (SBU) Afghan President Karzai, Turkmen President
Berdimuhammedov, and UN Under Secretary General for Political
Affairs Lynn Pascoe will also attend as honored guests. Most
will arrive a day before the summit, on August 15. Chinese
President Hu Jintao will arrive earlier than the rest, for an
official state visit on August 14. The six SCO member heads
of government will leave the evening of August 16 or the
morning of August 17 to observe the conclusion of the SCO's
August 9-17 counterterrorism exercise in Russia. Dubbed
"Peace Mission 2007," the exercise includes the participation
of over 6,500 troops from throughout the SCO's territories,
but primarily from Russia and China.

COMMENT: ALL ON THE LINE
--------------


8. (C) Pulling this summit off successfully has been a high
priority for the Kyrgyz, with substantial government
resources devoted to that aim. Given the importance of the
summit to Kyrgyzstan's image, even members of the political
opposition have said that they will refrain from any public
demonstrations during the summit. Local commentators (and
numerous government officials) are hoping that a successful
summit will attract more foreign investment to Kyrgyzstan, as
attention focuses on Bishkek this week. To this end, the
Kyrgyz are emphasizing the trade and investment aspects of
the SCO for this summit.
YOVANOVITCH