SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SUMMIT: RUSSIA

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