Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MOSCOW3978
2007-08-14 16:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SUMMIT: RUSSIA
how-toVZCZCXRO9931 OO RUEHDBU DE RUEHMO #3978 2261627 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 141627Z AUG 07 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2918 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2295 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0463 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1119 RUEHUM/AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR PRIORITY 0274
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 003978
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR ECON SNAR RS
SUBJECT: SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SUMMIT: RUSSIA
EXPECTS "NO SURPRISES"
REF: A. MOSCOW 2682
B. MOSCOW 2205
Classified By: A/POL Colin Cleary. Reasons 1.4 (B/D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 003978
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR ECON SNAR RS
SUBJECT: SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SUMMIT: RUSSIA
EXPECTS "NO SURPRISES"
REF: A. MOSCOW 2682
B. MOSCOW 2205
Classified By: A/POL Colin Cleary. Reasons 1.4 (B/D).
1. (C) Summary. Russian officials tell us they expect "no
surprises" at the August 16 Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(SCO) Summit in Bishkek. According to the MFA's SCO
coordinator, Russia will seek to use the Summit to focus on
improving the functioning of the SCO, especially in setting
priorities among its various projects. Russian interlocutors
highlighted the presence of Turkmenistan at the Summit;
Berdimuhamedov's participation marks the first involvement of
Turkmenistan in the SCO since its inception in 2001. End
Summary.
2. (C) Leonid Moiseyev, the MFA's SCO coordinator, told us
that SCO Summit preparations had proceeded as planned, with a
few minor adjustments because of logistical conditions in
Bishkek. Unlike at other SCO summits, he said Bishkek did
not invite representatives from regional organizations --
such as the CIS and ASEAN, citing lack of accommodations.
The heads of state from all member and observer countries
except India and Pakistan (which will be represented by their
Foreign Ministers) are expected at the Summit. Chinese
President Hu, after his participation in the Summit, will
visit Kazakhstan and the Chelyabinsk region of Russia, where
he and other SCO leaders are expected to witness the
conclusion of the SCO anti-terrorism exercise -- "Peace
Mission 2007."
3. (C) Moiseyev maintained that Turkmenistan's interest in
the SCO is natural, considering the country's new openness
and the SCO's status as a major Central Asian organization.
"It is premature to talk about Turkmenistan's full membership
at this point," he added. As emphasized by FM Lavrov during
the July Foreign Ministers' meeting in Bishkek, the GOR
considers adding new members to SCO at this point to be
counter-productive. Moiseyev said the organization needs to
move beyond the "euphoria" of its birth, which culminated in
last year's Shanghai Summit. Russia will seek to use the
Bishkek Summit to encourage the SCO to prioritize among its
projects in various areas -- from health and culture to
economic and military cooperation.
4. (C) According to Moiseyev, Afghan President Karzai's
presence will add impetus to the SCO's plan for involvement
in Afghanistan and help the SCO to focus its attention on
concrete projects. SCO members are discussing various
projects in Afghanistan, but implementation is marred by the
lack of investment from member countries, he said.
RUSSELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR ECON SNAR RS
SUBJECT: SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SUMMIT: RUSSIA
EXPECTS "NO SURPRISES"
REF: A. MOSCOW 2682
B. MOSCOW 2205
Classified By: A/POL Colin Cleary. Reasons 1.4 (B/D).
1. (C) Summary. Russian officials tell us they expect "no
surprises" at the August 16 Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(SCO) Summit in Bishkek. According to the MFA's SCO
coordinator, Russia will seek to use the Summit to focus on
improving the functioning of the SCO, especially in setting
priorities among its various projects. Russian interlocutors
highlighted the presence of Turkmenistan at the Summit;
Berdimuhamedov's participation marks the first involvement of
Turkmenistan in the SCO since its inception in 2001. End
Summary.
2. (C) Leonid Moiseyev, the MFA's SCO coordinator, told us
that SCO Summit preparations had proceeded as planned, with a
few minor adjustments because of logistical conditions in
Bishkek. Unlike at other SCO summits, he said Bishkek did
not invite representatives from regional organizations --
such as the CIS and ASEAN, citing lack of accommodations.
The heads of state from all member and observer countries
except India and Pakistan (which will be represented by their
Foreign Ministers) are expected at the Summit. Chinese
President Hu, after his participation in the Summit, will
visit Kazakhstan and the Chelyabinsk region of Russia, where
he and other SCO leaders are expected to witness the
conclusion of the SCO anti-terrorism exercise -- "Peace
Mission 2007."
3. (C) Moiseyev maintained that Turkmenistan's interest in
the SCO is natural, considering the country's new openness
and the SCO's status as a major Central Asian organization.
"It is premature to talk about Turkmenistan's full membership
at this point," he added. As emphasized by FM Lavrov during
the July Foreign Ministers' meeting in Bishkek, the GOR
considers adding new members to SCO at this point to be
counter-productive. Moiseyev said the organization needs to
move beyond the "euphoria" of its birth, which culminated in
last year's Shanghai Summit. Russia will seek to use the
Bishkek Summit to encourage the SCO to prioritize among its
projects in various areas -- from health and culture to
economic and military cooperation.
4. (C) According to Moiseyev, Afghan President Karzai's
presence will add impetus to the SCO's plan for involvement
in Afghanistan and help the SCO to focus its attention on
concrete projects. SCO members are discussing various
projects in Afghanistan, but implementation is marred by the
lack of investment from member countries, he said.
RUSSELL