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DE RUEHAH #1610/01 3521221
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171221Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2000
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2395
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4591
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2260
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2839
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3145
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
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RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 001610 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP, ECA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT:  TURKMENISTAN:  NOVEMBER MEDIA REACTION - LESS GENEROUS 
STATE COVERAGE THAN BEFORE 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (U) SUMMARY:  State media carried a number of favorable stories 
on several Embassy events or visitors.  Other events were covered 
but never carried, or were misleading in their final versions. 
There appears to be a negative trend in post's recent contact and 
cooperation with state media, evidenced by some contacts who have 
noted tightening rules and because of rejected stories on events 
such as U.S. elections.  END SUMMARY. 
 
PRESSURE ON TURKMEN STUDENTS - MISTRANSLATION MISLEADS 
 
¶3.  (U) "Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's" Turkmen language program 
on November 11 carried a story accusing Turkmenistan's authorities 
of pressuring students not to participate in U.S. exchange programs 
or have any contact with Embassy programs.  Associated Press 
(English) and Reuters (English) stories on November 13 accurately 
quoted the Public Affairs Officer's cleared remarks on the issue, 
which mentioned both progress and problems.  However, the AP and 
Reuters stories focused only on the negative.  The same day, the 
opposition website "Gundogar" (Russian) and Russian website 
"Gazeta.ru" (Russian), referred to the "Reuters" story, and carried 
a mistranslated quote by the PAO.  The inaccurate translation 
implied that the Embassy no longer discusses educational issues with 
Turkmenistan's authorities, when in fact the PAO had emphasized the 
reverse - that the Embassy had continued contact with the 
government.  In subsequent days, opposition website "watan.ru" 
(Russian) and Russian website "centrasia.ru" (Russian) reprinted the 
"Gazeta.ru" story with the same inaccuracy.  On November 14, the 
opposition website "Chronicle of Turkmenistan" (www.chrono-tm.org) 
(Russian) carried the correct Embassy statement on the issue, but 
also repeated the same inaccuracies that appeared in the Russian 
language versions.  On November 17, RFE/RL Turkmen language program 
carried an accurate and complete follow-up story on the issue of 
pressure on Turkmen students based on an interview with PAO. 
 
MEDIA HIGHLIGHT U.S. MUSICAN'S ROLE IN MOVIE FESTIVAL 
 
¶4.  (U) On November 3, the state-run daily "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, 
circ. 33,391) carried coverage of Turkmenistan's International film 
festival and included accurate interview remarks by State 
Department-sponsored musician Douglas Protsik, who stressed the art 
of silent movies and also praised Turkmen culture.  On November 10, 
RFE/RL's Turkmen language program carried a generally accurate 
interview with Mr. Protsik about his visit and the importance of 
movie festivals and cultural diplomacy. 
 
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHT U.S. ELECTION DAY RECEPTION, BUT... 
 
¶5. (U) On November 5, the embassy hosted a U.S. Election day 
reception, which included internet tracking and live CNN coverage of 
the presidential election results.  The same day, the news website 
www.haberler.com (Turkish) posted an accurate article about the 
post-organized reception.  (NOTE: The source of the article is 
"Cihan Haber Ajansi" (Turkish), whose representative was a guest of 
the event.  END NOTE.)  Turkish "Zaman" newspaper's Turkmen language 
edition on November 8 ran a short, accurate story with photo about 
the event.  On November 10-11, the RFE/RL Turkmen language program 
broadcast a two-part program, which accurately reported the event 
and included comments from an interview with PAO. 
 
... STATE MEDIA FAIL TO RUN THEIR OWN STORIES 
 
¶6. (SBU) State media outlets "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, 
Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabian, Persian, French) and the "Watan" 
TV evening news program (Turkmen) both attended and filmed extensive 
video and conducted interviews at the election day event.  Both 
channels prepared edited pieces for broadcast.  Neither channel 
received approval to broadcast the story.  One media contact noted 
that, in contrast to usual practice, instead of a rejection, the 
approvers never responded.  The only state media mention of the U.S. 
election appeared on "Echo of the Planet" (Turkmen), an 
international news summary on "Altyn Asyr" TV channel which replays 
 
ASHGABAT 00001610  002 OF 003 
 
 
video from foreign broadcasters, and a congratulatory note from 
President Berdimuhamedov to the President-elect which was published 
in the major daily newspapers. 
 
STATE TV HIGHLIGHT INTERVIEW BY PAO AT ART EXHIBITION 
 
¶7.  (U) On November 16, "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, 
English, Chinese, Arabian, Persian, French) carried accurate 
interview remarks by the U.S. Embassy's Public Affairs Officer at an 
exhibition of works by a famous Turkmen sculptor.  In the interview, 
PAO highlighted the creativity and talent of individual Turkmen 
citizens. 
 
MEDIA HIGHLIGHT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK 
 
¶8.  (U) On November 18, the state-run dailies "Neytralniy 
Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 44,991) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen 
circ. 33,391) carried an accurate article about the post-conducted 
International Education Week (IEW) events.  A similar article 
appeared the following day on the front page of the teachers' 
newspaper "Mugallymlar gazeti" (Turkmen, circ. 91,341) and on the 
government website "Turkmenistan Golden Age" (Turkmen, Russian, 
English).  The article accurately highlighted the event's opening 
ceremony and the schedule of subsequent events during the week.  The 
same day, the "internet news" program of the state "Altyn Asyr" TV 
channel accurately reported on the event.  (NOTE: The article 
materials were provided by the Embassy's Public Affairs Section to 
the Turkmen State News Service (TDH) correspondent.  END NOTE.)  On 
November 21 RFE/RL's Turkmen language program accurately reported on 
IEW based on an interview with PAO. 
 
STATE NEWS PROGRAM MISLEADINGLY HIGHLIGHTS A VISITING U.S. ELECTIONS 
SPEAKER 
 
¶9.  (U) On November 14, "Watan" TV evening news program (Turkmen) 
carried a short report on the presentation U.S. elections expert Dr. 
Gregory Payne gave at the National Institute of Democracy and Human 
Rights.  Instead of describing the presentation as one on the recent 
U.S. Presidential elections, the news program implied that the 
discussion focused on the December 14 Turkmenistan parliamentary 
elections. 
 
MEDIA COVERAGE OF ICNL ROUNDTABLE WITH TURKMEN GOVERNMENT GIVES 
CREDIT TO MFA 
 
¶10.  (U) On November 17, the "Watan" TV news program (Turkmen) 
carried generally accurate coverage of the roundtable held by the 
International Center for Non-profit Law (ICNL) and hosted by 
Turkmenistan's Institute of Democracy and Human Rights.  The report 
stressed the improvement of Turkmenistan's legislation on public 
organizations and included interview remarks by ICNL 
representatives.  However, the story stated that the roundtable was 
organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but in fact, was 
initiated and organized by ICNL. 
 
STATE NEWSPAPER BELATEDLY COVERS ALUMNI PROGRAM 
 
¶11.  (SBU) On November 20, the state-run daily "Neytralniy 
Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 44,991) ran an accurate article on the 
opening of a resource center for entrepreneurs, supported by an 
alumni grant.  However, this opening actually took place about one 
month earlier.  The article emphasized the center's role in 
developing business knowledge with technology and the support of 
foreign trainers.  It also mentioned Post's current English Language 
Fellow as one of the first trainers.  (NOTE: The author of the 
article, one of post's best journalist contacts, noted that it took 
a long time to obtain approval for publication.  END NOTE.) 
"Turkmenistan" TV channel covered the presentation with interviews, 
but never broadcast the story. 
 
STATE TV COVERAGE OF USAID SUPPORT OF TURKMENISTAN IN ACCOUNTING 
STANDARDS 
 
 
ASHGABAT 00001610  003 OF 003 
 
 
¶12.  (U) On November 27, the "Watan" TV news program (Turkmen) 
accurately covered a USAID-conducted roundtable with Turkmen 
professors and specialists on international accounting standards. 
The program stressed the importance of further training through 
USAID's "Economic Reforms to Enhance Competitiveness" (EREC) project 
and used quotes by USAID Country Representative's on the 
significance of higher education based on international standards. 
On December 2, "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, English, 
Chinese, Arabian, Persian, French) gave accurate coverage of the 
roundtable, and also carried an interview of one of the teachers who 
attended as well as EREC project consultants.  The program placed 
high importance on international standards in teaching financial 
accounting in Turkmenistan. 
 
STATE NEWSPAPER AND WEBSITE HIGHLIGHT USAID HEALTHCARE PROJECTS IN 
TURKMENISTAN 
 
¶13.  (U) On November 27, the state-run daily "Neytralniy 
Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 44,991) ran a long article on a youth 
center for HIV prevention supported by a USAID/CAPACITY project. 
The same article was posted on the government website "Turkmenistan 
Golden Age" (Turkmen, Russian, English) on November 30.  The story 
described the activities of the center and its increasing role in 
educating the country's youth.  On November 27, the government 
website "Turkmenistan Golden Age" (Turkmen, Russian, English) posted 
an accurate article on a tuberculosis prevention seminar organized 
by USAID partner, project "HOPE" jointly with the Ministry of Health 
of Turkmenistan.  The next day, state-run daily "Neytralniy 
Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 44,991) ran the same article by 
Turkmen State News Service (TDH). 
 
¶14.  (SBU) COMMENT:  RECEDING STATE MEDIA COOPERATION - Perhaps the 
honeymoon with state media is ending.  Perhaps recent Embassy 
events, such as the U.S. election reception were simply too "risky" 
to government authorities.  While many Turkmen were as caught up in 
the U.S. elections as were people in other countries, having a 
government media organ point out the exciting, competitive nature of 
the U.S. campaign was no doubt a bridge too far.  Health programs 
appear to be safe territory in contrast.  While it is hard to 
interpret the meaning of recent coverage, what's clear is that there 
has been increased difficulty in obtaining state media coverage in 
the past few weeks.  Some media contacts have turned down Embassy 
invitations and indicated tightening rules about their ability to 
cover "foreign organization events."  Some have also indicated a 
change in procedure - requiring a diplomatic note when before it was 
not necessary to cover Embassy events.  In addition, some state 
media coverage of embassy events has included pro-government spin 
reminiscent of the Niyazov-era. 
 
¶15. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED:  MIXED RECORD WITH INTERNATIONAL AND 
OPPOSITION MEDIA - The news story of pressure on Turkmen students 
originated with reports by individual students to RFE/RL.  This 
seems to indicate a growing willingness of locals to discuss problem 
issues with a rep of a taboo media organization.  The subsequent 
follow-up interview by RFE/RL and clarifications on this story also 
show the organization's improved effort to report stories 
accurately.  Unfortunately, a mistranslation in Russian language 
media gave a distorted picture of the issue in a variety of Russian 
language outlets.  END COMMENT. 
 
MILES