VZCZCXRO5236
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ
RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #1470/01 3120538
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 070538Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1822
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2150
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4473
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2285
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2721
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3039
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001470 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV SCUL OIIP KDEM KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: U.S. ELECTION EXCITEMENT IN THE MORNING FAILS 
TO MAKE THE EVENING NEWS 
 
¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On the morning of November 5, Post hosted a 
well-attended U.S. election reception.  Due to the time difference, 
attendees were able to track election results as polling stations 
closed across the United States.  Presentations on overseas voting 
and the Electoral College, displays on democratic themes and a mock 
election all reinforced the informational impact of the event. 
Despite the presence of Turkmen TV cameras filming the event, the 
evening broadcast included no mention of this historic election. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
GENUINE ELECTION EXCITEMENT 
 
¶3. (SBU) Starting at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 5, local and 
diplomatic invitees came to the Public Affairs Section 
(PAS)-organized reception to watch election results.  Among the 200 
plus guests, Turkmen government turnout was low, due to President 
Berdimuhamedov's departure for South Korea the same day.  However, 
several mid-level MFA representatives were present.  Other attendees 
included the diplomatic corps, NGO reps, USG program alumni, as well 
as a large number of private American Citizens.  A large number of 
guests stayed for two or three hours, with many remaining through 
Obama's victory speech. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) In a hotel banquet hall, guests were treated to multimedia 
election information and live coverage via satellite television and 
the Internet.  IIP-produced election materials were available, 
including DVD copies of campaign videos with Turkmen subtitles, were 
available for distribution.  Poster shows on Democracy and the 
Women's Suffrage movement were on display in the lobby just in front 
of the banquet hall.  Video bios of both candidates were playing on 
TVs at the event, accompanied by cardboard cutouts of each 
candidate.  On stage were large projection screens of CNN 
International and a live Internet Electoral College map.  Conoff and 
PAO gave presentations on overseas voting and the Electoral College 
system, respectively.  The crowd and the multimedia displays gave 
the event a real election party feel. 
 
HUSHED INTEREST, FOLLOWING THE RESULTS 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Minutes after the presentation on the Electoral College 
and the 270 electoral votes needed to win, CNN projected Senator 
Obama as the winner to applause and cheers.  Within minutes, Post's 
Charge d'Affaires, an African-American, delivered moving and highly 
personal remarks about the evolution of American democracy during 
her lifetime, culminating in the election of Obama.  Guests listened 
with hushed interest and some cried. 
 
MOCK ELECTION RESULTS ALSO GENERATE EXCITEMENT 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The diplomatic corps and local citizens participated in a 
mock election.  Many "voters" freely wore their "I voted" stickers. 
Although the Obama and McCain buttons provided were taken by many 
visitors, only a few were brave enough to show open support for 
either candidate through wearing a button.  One USG program alumnus 
wore both candidates' buttons.  Many guests were thrilled with the 
option of voting, even if their votes did not count. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The mock-election result (Obama 48 to McCain 8) was 
announced sometime after CNN projected the real result.  The 
announcement was immediately followed by a drop of balloons, "Stars 
and Stripes Forever," and guests clapping to the rhythm. 
 
POSITIVE REACTIONS TO THE OBAMA VICTORY 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Many locals were surprised and delighted by the news of 
the Obama victory.  Many expressed that they had been pessimistic 
about his chances of actually winning.  Some expressed approval with 
the new direction and new image of the United States.  Many USG 
alumni were particularly happy with Obama's victory.  One noted that 
Obama will better represent the U.S. to the world.  One diplomat 
noted that Obama's election would mark an improved step for the 
U.S., but now the world will see if he can live up to the 
expectations.  One western ambassador remarked that Obama's victory 
was a "symbol to the world" of the possibility of real democracy. 
 
ASHGABAT 00001470  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
STATE MEDIA PRESENT 
 
¶8.  (SBU) TV crews from the evening "Watan" news program and the 
Turkmenistan Channel both covered the event.  Also in attendance 
were international stringers and state print media journalists.  One 
state journalist quietly but boldly told PAO, "I wish we could vote 
for change," - very uncharacteristic for a state employee.  TV 
cameras interviewed Embassy staff and private American citizens 
about the election.  One crew also filmed private Americans who 
cheered or were tearful about the Obama victory. 
 
BREAD AND BUTTER "ISSUES" COVERED IN THE NEWS 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Disappointingly, Wednesday night's evening broadcast made 
no mention of the U.S. elections or the embassy's event.  Instead 
the main "news" items were the lead story on President 
Berdimuhamedov's departure to Korea (as expected), a story on 
Turkmen wheat processing (ending with unexciting video of a bread 
delivery truck unloading bread), and a story showing the mass 
production of "President" brand butter.  Also surprising: there was 
no mention of the election in the state newspapers on Thursday 
morning.  (NOTE: Watan newspaper had previously run a few short 
paragraph-length articles on the U.S. campaign in the last few 
months.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶10. (SBU) COMMENT: The Wednesday morning event was well received and 
had the feel of a genuine American election party.  All guests 
seemed to enjoy the excitement of learning the outcome.  Many spoke 
in positive terms about American democracy and the potential of 
President-elect Barack Obama.  Post is disappointed, however, that 
State media has so far ignored an historic American election, 
despite their attendance at this event and that one newspaper had 
even run some simple coverage of the election campaign previously. 
END COMMENT. 
 
CURRAN