VZCZCXRO9343
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RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #0526 1190644
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 280644Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0682
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1508
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 3690
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RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1944
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2459
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000526 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB, SCA/PPD, IIP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT:  TURKMENISTAN:  MEDIA COVERAGE OF UNDER SECRETARY REUBEN 
JEFFERY'S VISIT TO TURKMENISTAN. 
 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (U) SUMMARY:  International and domestic state media accurately 
covered Under Secretary of State Reuben Jeffery's April 21-22 visit 
to Turkmenistan.  The accurate state media coverage reflects the 
Turkmen government's continued commitment to a positive U.S.-Turkmen 
relationship and to cooperation in the energy sector.  END SUMMARY. 
 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS AGENCIES' COVERAGE OF REUBEN JEFFERY'S VISIT 
 
¶3.  (SBU) On April 21, international news agencies gave accurate 
coverage of Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and 
Agricultural Affairs and Coordinator for International Energy 
Affairs Reuben Jeffery's visit to Turkmenistan.  "Reuters" (English, 
Russian), "Agence France Presse", as well as Russian news agencies 
"Interfax", "Fergana.ru" and "ITAR-TASS," all referenced the 
Embassy's press-release. They also accurately quoted Jeffery's 
remarks about the impact of economic reforms and the importance of 
increased cooperation with foreign governments and international 
energy companies.  In contrast to some previous media coverage, 
there was not an over-emphasis on American interest in 
Turkmenistan's gas and oil. 
 
STATE MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS JEFFERY'S VISIT TO TURKMENISTAN 
 
¶4.  (U) The evening "Watan" TV news program on April 21 showed Under 
Secretary Jeffery's meeting with President Berdimuhamedov, as the 
 
SIPDIS 
second story, following the visit of the UN General Assembly 
President Srgjan Kerim.  The segment reported U/S Jeffery's 
expression of U.S. support for Turkmenistan's reform policy and 
emphasized the willingness of U.S. businesses to establish 
partnerships in the oil and gas sector.  The report also noted the 
need to expand the Turkmen-American dialog and to attract U.S. 
companies' expertise and technology in a wide range of fields 
including energy.  Jeffery's remarks about the meeting, with 
generally accurate Turkmen language translation, followed.  The same 
day, pro-government website "TURKMENISTAN.RU" (Russian, English) 
highlighted the meeting.  Similar reports appeared April 22 on the 
front page of state-run dailies "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian, 
circ. 44,791) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 29,091).  The 
Government website "Turkmenistan-Golden Age" 
(www.turkmenistan.gov.tm) (Turkmen, English, Russian) carried an 
article similar to the one carried in the state dailies.  (NOTE: All 
state media coverage heavily drew from "Watan" TV news broadcast 
content.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶5.  (SBU) COMMENT:  Post's early press-release, as well as the fact 
the press at the same time covered the visit of the UN General 
Assembly president, probably helped keep international, especially 
Russian, news media from giving a negative spin to U/S Jeffery's 
visit and U.S. interest in Turkmenistan's resources.  The press 
release served as the main content for most such reports, but added 
notes on U.S. efforts to bypass Russia's gas pipeline network only. 
The accurate state media coverage reflects the Turkmen government's 
continued commitment to a positive U.S.-Turkmen relationship and to 
cooperation in the energy sector.  END COMMENT. 
 
CURRAN