President Not Decided Yet On Attending Bishkek, New York Meetings

Tehran, Aug 13, IRNA - Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Araqchi said on Tuesday that President Hassan Rohani has not decided yet on participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstsan, and the United Nation General Assembly session in New York. Araqchi made the remarks while responding to a question on the possible travel of President Rohani to New York and Bishkek. President Rohani was invited to the SCO meeting slated for September 13, 2013 in Bishkek, Araqchi told reporters at his weekly press conference. The spokesman further said that the SCO meeting played a pivotal role in Eurasia and Asia regions and that Iran was invited to the event as an active member of the body. The SCO summit is to be held in Bishkek in the presence of senior officials from member and observer states. Iran, along with Afghanistan, India, Mongolia, and Pakistan have an observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Shanghai Cooperation Organization is an intergovernmental organization that was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Araqchi noted that President Rohani was currently busy with the issue of examining qualification of his proposed cabinet members by the Iranian Parliament (majlis). However, he added, President Rohani would definitely make his final decision on visiting Bishkek after the end of the cabinet issue. Sionce August 12, Iranian lawmakers have started debate on competency of President Rohani's 18 proposed ministers for the cabinet. President Rohani attended Majlis sessions both on Monday and Tuesday to defend his proposed ministers. As for Iran's participation in the UN General Assembly meeting in September, Araqchi referred to the event as a unique opportunity for Tehran but stressed, We are still waiting for President Rohanis decision to this end./end