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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000123 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, EEB 
AID/W FOR EE/EA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: INTERNEWS RECEIVES POSITIVE SIGNALS ON MEDIA 
 
REFORM 
 
REF:  (A) 07 ASHGABAT 1338  (B) 08 ASHGABAT 1547 
 
ASHGABAT 00000123  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: In meetings on January 22 with the Turkmen 
National Institute of Democracy and Human Rights (IDHR) and Ministry 
of Culture and Broadcasting, USAID/Internews received renewed 
confirmation of these entities' desire for cooperation on media 
reform.  The IDHR repeated its previously stated intention to 
cooperate with Internews to develop a new mass media law, and 
proposed a July roundtable as the initial step in a series of events 
to support the ongoing process of general legislative reform. 
Separately, the Minister of Culture and Broadcasting indicated his 
willingness to work with Internews to improve production skills of 
state television managers and specialists, beginning with a five-day 
study tour to Kazakhstan for managers of Turkmen television 
channels.  Both of these entities had previously stated a desire for 
cooperation with USAID/Internews only to have seemingly agreed upon 
plans scuttled during the interagency process (ref A), but Post 
remains cautiously optimistic that the current initiatives will move 
forward. END SUMMARY. 
 
IDHR DIRECTOR: MEDIA LAW DUE FOR CHANGES 
 
¶3. (SBU) During the meeting with the Institute of Democracy and 
Human Rights, Institute Director Shirin Ahmedova said that 
cooperation with USAID and Internews fit within the framework of 
overall legislative reforms announced by President Berdimuhamedov 
and his specific mandates to develop mass media in Turkmenistan. 
The mass media law had not undergone any changes since its adoption 
in 1991, but there was currently public and governmental demand to 
improve the media sector, including legislation related to mass 
media. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Ahmedova stressed that Turkmenistan itself had identified 
positive development initiatives and that international donors 
should seek opportunities to support these initiatives.  She said 
that USAID proved to be an effective partner for the Institute in 
building a platform for NGO law changes (ref B), so it was prepared 
to cooperate with USAID and Internews on the mass media law. 
Additionally, she complimented Internews for increased government 
engagement in CIS countries, specifically Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, 
which positively affected the IDHR's desire to cooperate with 
Internews.  To this end, she said that Turkmenistan's government had 
already announced its intention to cooperate with USAID/Internews on 
mass media law when its delegation appeared before the United 
Nations' Human Rights Council as part of the Universal Periodical 
Review mechanism.  (NOTE: Ahmedova herself made this statement in 
December 2008 as the government's representative in Geneva. END 
NOTE) 
 
¶5. (SBU) As a first step in its cooperation with USAID/Internews, 
Ahmedova proposed to organize a joint roundtable in July 2009 on 
international standards in mass media legislation with participation 
of the international specialists identified by Internews.  A second 
roundtable, for participants from the different government agencies 
such as Parliament, Ministry of Culture, Institute of State and Law 
and others, would discuss Internews' recommendations on the mass 
media law changes.  Finally, IDHR and Internews' experts would 
jointly prepare practical recommendations to amend the existing mass 
media law, which would be submitted to Parliament for consideration. 
 (NOTE: This approach is similar to earlier cooperation between IDHR 
and USAID/ICNL on the law on NGOs. END NOTE) 
 
"THE FIRST STEP IS THE HARDEST -- LET'S GET STARTED" 
 
 
ASHGABAT 00000123  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) Minister of Culture and Broadcasting Gulmurat Muradov said 
the government was very interested to upgrade the quality of 
Turkmenistan's television specialists and content.  Although it was 
launched only recently, the Ministry had positive expectations for 
its new television channel, Turkmen Ovasy (Turkmen Melody). 
Acknowledging its ongoing cooperation with other international 
donors, including BBC World Trust, Muradov said that the Ministry 
was interested to cooperate with USAID/Internews on 
capacity-building efforts through training TV journalists, managers, 
camera men and other specialists.  The Ministry had young and 
capable specialists, but they lacked good professional skills and 
did not have the creativity to support national development 
objectives.  Stressing the need for local knowledge and 
understanding, the Minister mentioned a visiting foreign producer 
and cameraman who did not know the country's specifics, whose 
outputs could not be broadcast by state TV as a result. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Addressing Muradov's interest in professional training, 
Internews' Regional Director provided several examples of its 
experience training specialists and providing consultations in all 
media-related areas, from producing video segments to drafting 
legislation.  Furthermore, its extensive experience working in 
Central Asia provided it with detailed knowledge on each country's 
specific needs.  In this regard, Internews noted that it has highly 
qualified trainers in Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries 
that could support the professional development needs of the 
Ministry's specialists.  Internews was fully prepared to respond to 
the Minister's concerns. 
 
¶8. (SBU) After the Ministry's International Department Head 
explained that the study tour Internews proposed in mid-November had 
not been possible due to the high number of festivals and state 
visits during that time, Muradov sighed, "The first step is the 
hardest.  Let's get started."  The Ministry and Internews agreed 
that Internews would propose new dates for a five-day study tour to 
Kazakhstan for Turkmenistan's television channel managers, then 
would develop a more detailed proposal to provide in-country 
training for state TV staff based on the study tour's results.  In 
addition, the Ministry would consider the possibility of sending 
selected technical staff to Kazakhstan for extended training. 
Finally, Muradov appeared very interested in Internews' offer to 
provide Internews-produced content for airing on state TV channels, 
and requested copies to review. 
 
¶9. (SBU) COMMENT: Although both the IDHR and Ministry have 
previously stated a desire for cooperation with USAID/Internews, 
only to have seemingly agreed upon plans scuttled during the 
interagency process, the fact that both entities proposed firm 
activities and continued to express a willingness to cooperate may 
indicate that previous obstacles have been addressed.  Post remains 
cautiously optimistic that the current agreements will move forward 
following their submission through official channels. 
 
¶10. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: Both the IDHR Director and the Minister 
of Culture and Broadcasting raised the issue of TV channels' 
privatization when discussing international experience.  The 
minister mentioned his interest in Kazakhstan's experience 
transitioning government channels to private ownership and said that 
both he and the Ministry's TV station managers would closely study 
Internews' experience in developing charters and regulations with 
Kazakhstan's private channels.  Some local experts have suggested 
that opening a private station may become possible within the next 
two years, although it is likely that anyone allowed to do so will 
be scrutinized closely for loyalty to the administration and 
willingness to toe the party line. END COMMENT. 
 
 
ASHGABAT 00000123  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
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