VZCZCXRO5855
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHCO #0522 3060027
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 020027Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1171
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS COTONOU 000522 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/PD WHARTON, KEMP, CROWE-SANCHEZ, AF/W ASTEWART 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OEXC ECPS OIIP KPAO BN
SUBJECT: BENIN NATIONAL TV DIRECTOR PAYS COURTESY CALL ON PAO 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY: On October 28, Stephane Todomey, Director of the 
state-controlled TV station, the Radio and Television Office of 
Benin (ORTB), paid a courtesy call on PAO Rhonda J. Watson to 
follow-up on issues raised during a representational luncheon with 
journalists, hosted by the PAO on September 12.  The Director 
expressed his appreciation for the gesture of goodwill and expressed 
interest in establishing a partnership between ORTB and VOA and 
sought Post's assistance in providing programming material to ORTB. 
END SUMMARY 
 
¶2. Todomey said that he is committed to cooperating fully with the 
public affairs section to promote U.S. Mission activities and that 
he will give his colleagues the necessary instructions to have this 
commitment implemented.  He also said that ORTB is now available in 
some countries by satellite and that by February 2010 the station 
hopes to increase its technical capability, so that viewers in the 
United States will have access to ORTB programming. 
 
¶3. Todomey took the opportunity to request that Post procure an 
English lesson series for re-broadcast and he also suggested that it 
could be possible for the Mission to have a program on ORTB on a 
regular basis.  The PAO volunteered to think about ways that Post 
could either develop programming or provide broadcast quality 
material for rebroadcast. 
 
¶4. Comments: PD representational funds have been meager but used 
creatively to foster closer cooperation with the media, particularly 
the national TV station which has been notoriously absent at Mission 
sponsored events.  The impact of the representational luncheon with 
the Director of the National TV station is tremendous and bodes well 
for a more positive future partnership.  Todomey's wish to cooperate 
closely with the Public Affairs Section will provide more visibility 
to the implementation of the Mission's goals, and improve the 
Mission's relations with the local media community. 
 
KNIGHT