VZCZCXRO1284
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ
RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #0020 0071209
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 071209Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2071
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2448
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4644
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2313
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2892
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3187
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000020 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP, ECA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT:  TURKMENISTAN:  DECEMBER MEDIA REACTION - PRODUCTIVE STATE 
MEDIA COOPERATION 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  State media coverage of post events was positive 
in December.  In fact, in some cases, such as holiday messages, the 
Embassy had a higher profile than other foreign missions in country. 
 In one case, post was able to obtain belated coverage of an event 
(a Peace Corps swearing-in ceremony) even though no state media 
attended.  END SUMMARY. 
 
STATE MEDIA HIGHLIGHT EMBASSY OFFICIALS' MESSAGES 
 
¶3.  (SBU) On December 30, "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, 
Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabian, Persian, French) carried an 
accurate and complete translation of the New Year's Day message by 
post's Charg d'Affaires.  In contrast to messages by many other 
foreign missions, the Charge's was more personable and focused on 
the holiday celebration rather than simply bilateral relations. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) On December 31, the same TV channel carried another 
message by post's Public Affairs Officer who outlined the various 
holiday celebrations in the United States, such as Thanksgiving, 
Christmas, New Year's Day, etc. (NOTE: The channel was originally 
planning to run a series of cultural attach interviews on how the 
holidays are celebrated in each represented country.  However, the 
U.S. Embassy was the only one featured in this report on "holiday 
preparations."  END NOTE.) 
 
¶5.  (U) On December 24, "Turkmenistan" TV channel and the "Watan" TV 
evening news program (Turkmen) carried accurate remarks by the 
Charge on the adoption of the draft UN Resolution for pipeline 
reliability, which had been sponsored by Turkmenistan. 
 
¶6.  (U) On December 12, "Turkmenistan" TV channel accurately carried 
a congratulatory message by the Charge on Turkmenistan's Neutrality 
Day. 
 
MEDIA HIGHLIGHT JAZZ MUSICIANS TOUR 
 
¶7.  (U) On December 16, the "Watan" TV evening news program 
highlighted the Ari Roland Jazz Quartet's public performance in 
Ashgabat, giving accurate details of their visit.  On December 18, 
"Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese, 
Arabian, Persian, French) carried broader coverage of the concert 
with interview remarks by embassy officials and group members.  The 
following day, coverage by the state-run dailies "Neytralniy 
Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 44,991) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, 
circ. 33,391) was also accurate.  In addition, the same articles 
were posted on the government website "Turkmenistan Golden Age" 
(Turkmen, Russian, English) 
 
STATE NEWSPAPER PRAISES PEACE CORPS IN TURKMENISTAN 
 
¶8.  (SBU) On December 25, the state-run daily "Neytralniy 
Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 44,991) ran a story on the Peace Corps 
annual swearing-in ceremony, hailing Peace Corps cooperation in 
Turkmenistan and highlighting new volunteers who spoke or performed 
in the Turkmen language.  (NOTE: The event actually took place on 
December 5 and was not covered by any state media until PAS prodded 
a trusted journalist contact.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶9.  (SBU) COMMENT:  Our coverage in the media during December was 
generally positive.  Despite some recent concerns that state media 
was becoming less open to covering USG events, it was definitely not 
the case in December.  END COMMENT. 
 
MILES