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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000578 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP, ECA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT:  TURKMENISTAN:  MEDIA REACTION ON APRIL POST EVENTS 
 
REF:  (A) Ashgabat 562 (B) Ashgabat 518 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (U) SUMMARY:  In addition to coverage of visits by Assistant 
Secretary Richard Boucher and DAS George Krol in April (Refs A and 
B), April saw media provide generally accurate and favorable 
coverage of numerous U.S. visitors and Post-conducted events. 
Western websites highlighted the visit to the United States of a 
Turkmen TV crew as part of the "TV CO-OP" program.  State and 
international media covered the early April visit by Director of the 
Office of Policy and Evaluation of the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs Rick Ruth, who came to monitor the progress of 
joint projects implemented in Turkmenistan under "Ambassador's Fund 
for Cultural Preservation" (AFCP).  Media gave favorable coverage of 
USAID activities in Turkmenistan.  State media also gave accurate 
coverage of the visit of the President of Eurasia Foundation for 
Central Asia, Jeff Erlich.    END SUMMARY. 
 
U.S. GOVERNMENT WEBSITE HIGHLIGHTS TURKMEN TV CREW'S VISIT TO USA 
UNDER TV CO-OP PROGRAM 
 
¶3.  (U) On April 2, "Media-Newswire.com" (English) issued a press 
release about the TV crew from Turkmenistan visiting Texas A&M 
University.  The release accurately outlined the purpose of the 
visit and highlighted the previous Texas A&M partnership with 
Turkmen State University, noting the efforts of Turkmenistan's 
Ambassador to the United States to reestablish educational exchanges 
with Turkmenistan.  On April 11, the "US Fed News" (English) 
reprinted the same article. 
 
MEDIA HIGHLIGHT TURKMENISTAN AND USA COOPERATION IN CULTURE 
 
¶4.  (U) On April 4, the government-run website "Turkmenistan Golden 
Age" (www.turkmenistan.gov.tm) (Turkmen, Russian and English) posted 
an accurate article on ECA's Rick Ruth who made site visits to 
Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) projects.  The 
article praised significant contributions by the United States to 
preserve Turkmenistan's cultural heritage.  The story gave a broad 
description of completed and ongoing projects in Turkmenistan under 
AFCP.  On April 6, state-run dailies "Neutral Turkmenistan" 
(Russian, circ. 47,091) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 36,091) 
reprinted the same article from the web on their front pages.  The 
same day, Russian "RIA OREANDA" (English) Azeri News agency "Trend" 
(English, Russian), "TURKMENinform" (Russian), and "The Times of 
Central Asia" (English) carried similar stories on Ruth's visit 
based on the state media source.  An April 4 story on "Turkmenistan" 
TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabic, Persian, 
French) accurately highlighted interview remarks with Ruth and his 
program in the country.  Ruth spoke about AFCP projects in general 
and praised the close cultural cooperation between the U.S. and 
Turkmenistan.  On April 6, RFE/RL's Turkmen Broadcast aired an 
accurate interview piece with Rick Ruth, where he again outlined 
AFCP projects in Turkmenistan. 
 
INTERNATIONAL WEBSITES HIGHLIGHT USAID SUPPORT FOR TURKMEN YOUTH 
 
¶5.  (U) On April 16, Azeri News agency "Trend" (Russian) posted the 
Embassy press release on USAID support for Turkmen Youth to 
participate in International economics simulation contest.  On April 
18, the "US Fed News" (English) reprinted the same press release. 
 
EURASIA FOUNDATION VISIT RECEIVES STATE MEDIA COVERAGE 
 
¶6.  (U) On April 14, "Watan" TV evening news program (Turkmen) 
carried an accurate story on the visit by President of Eurasia 
Foundation for Central Asia, Jeff Erlich, highlighting his 
government meetings.  On April 19, "Turkmenistan" TV channel 
(Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabic, Persian, French) aired 
an accurate interview with Erlich, in which he fully introduced the 
Eurasia Foundation and its goals.  The program emphasized the 
Foundation's aim to cooperate with Turkmenistan in business, oil and 
gas, specialist training and other areas. 
 
 
ASHGABAT 00000578  002 OF 002 
 
 
STATE TV CHANNEL PRAISES USAID/IFRS TRAINING CENTER 
 
¶7.  (U) On April 19, state "Altyn Asyr" TV channel (Turkmen) carried 
a long and accurate story about the IFRS (International Financial 
Reporting Standards) training center at the Supreme Council for 
Science and Technology of Turkmenistan, which was opened last year 
by USAID.  The story included interview remarks by some of the state 
university professors, who had been taking IFRS courses at the 
center, and mainly carried archived video from the center's opening 
ceremony in 2008.  The professors stressed the importance of the 
center for Turkmen specialists, and praised the role of USAID in 
organizing trainings, carrying projects in healthcare and education 
systems of Turkmenistan.  (NOTE:  Per usual practice, interviewees 
first expressed their thanks to the President of Turkmenistan, 
giving him the credit for creation of the center.  END NOTE). 
 
U.S. CHARGE D'AFFAIRES SPEAKS IN STATE TV CULTURAL PROGRAM 
 
¶8.  (U) On April 29, "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, 
English, Chinese, Arabic, Persian, French) carried accurate 
interview remarks in Russian by U.S. Charge d'Affaires Richard Miles 
at an exhibition of art by a Turkmen artist. 
 
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD BOUCHER'S PRESS-CONFERENCE 
RECEIVES STATE TV COVERAGE 
 
¶9.  (U) On April 30, "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, 
English, Chinese, Arabic, Persian, French) carried an accurate story 
on Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher's visit.  Even though the 
broadcast appeared much later than the visit, the story highlighted 
A/S Boucher's session with students at the Institute of 
International Relations of Turkmenistan and a press-conference with 
media.  The story also included Boucher's accurate interview remarks 
from the Institute and highlights of his opening remarks from the 
press-conference.  Also see reftel B. 
 
STATE MEDIA COVERS THE VISIT OF DEPUTY ASSISTANT U.S. TRADE 
REPRESENTATIVE 
 
¶10.  (U) On April 29, "Watan" TV evening news program (Turkmen) 
carried a short, accurate video report on the meetings of the Deputy 
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, Mr. 
Claudio Lilienfeld with government officials.  On May 4, 
"Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese, 
Arabic, Persian, French) carried an interview with Mr. Lilienfeld, 
who talked about expanding cooperation in trade and investment with 
Turkmenistan, and noted the willingness of U.S. companies to invest 
in the country.  The same day, RFE/RL Turkmen Broadcast aired an 
accurate interview piece with Lilienfeld, who explained the purpose 
of his visit and talked about the U.S.-Turkmenistan economic 
relationship. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) COMMENT:  During April, State TV continued close 
cooperation with post in covering U.S. visitors or programs, 
including seeking clarifications in order to provide accurate 
coverage.  Post observed that some state journalists ask more varied 
questions and have presented stories in a slightly more modern way. 
This may be the influence of a BBC training program with the 
Ministry of Culture's journalists.  Surprisingly, one print article 
on Rick Ruth's visit apparently was written based on state TV 
coverage alone.  Overall, state media has shown slightly improved 
efforts to obtain accurate information and to cover U.S. events and 
programs favorably, including acknowledgement of U.S. assistance. 
END COMMENT. 
 
MILES