VZCZCXRO5408
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHAH #1277/01 2811222
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 081222Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3588
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3474
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5762
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3338
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 4005
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3982
RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001277 
 
UNCLASS 
SIPDIS 
 
REF: ASHGABAT 01255 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP, ECA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT:  TURKMENISTAN: MEDIA HIGHLIGHT SEPTEMBER POST EVENTS 
 
ASHGABAT 00001277  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY:  During September, the Turkmen media provided 
generally accurate and positive coverage of Embassy activities.  TV, 
print and radio outlets covered Embassy participation in the 
International Education Fair, the ceremony honoring the National 
Library with the award of an AFCP (Ambassador's Fund for Cultural 
Preservation) grant, USAID activities and ran several other articles 
on US educational programs in Turkmenistan.  END SUMMARY. 
 
STATE MEDIA COVERAGE OF U.S. PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL 
EDUCATION FAIR 
 
¶2.  (U) Both state "Yashlyk" TV channel (Turkmen) and state "Miras" 
TV channel carried accurate interviews with US Fulbright Scholar Dr. 
Melda Yildiz from the US booth at the International Education Fair. 
Her interview remarks at the exhibition were later repeated on state 
"Altyn Asyr" TV channel (Turkmen).  The same day, "Turkmenistan" TV 
channel (Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabic, Persian, 
French) carried a program dedicated to the exhibition, which 
prominently showed the U.S. Embassy booth and carried an accurate 
interview with USAID Country Director Ashley Moretz. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) On September 11, state weekly "Mugallymlar gazeti" 
(Turkmen, circ. 93,591) posted an article carrying an interview with 
Public Affairs Officer William Stevens at the International 
Education Fair.  The story was 90% filled with praising words about 
Turkmenistan, the Turkmen President's foreign policy and reforms in 
the country, which the PAO never made. 
 
STATE TV NEWS PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT US PARTICIPATION AT THE 
INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING FAIR 
 
¶4.  (U) On September 30, the "Watan" TV evening news program 
(Turkmen) carried a piece highlighting the U.S. booth at the 
publishing exhibition, and including an accurate interview with Dr. 
Yildiz.  During the interview, Dr. Yildiz fully introduced the 
Embassy's print and digital publishing capabilities and used a 
digital map to highlight Trenton, New Jersey, recalling President 
Berdymuhamedov's recent visit there. 
 
U.S. HELP TO TURKMENISTAN IN RESTORATION OF OLD BOOKS 
 
¶5.  (U) On September 23, pro-government website "Turkmenistan.ru" 
(Russian, English) referring to an Embassy-issued press release, 
posted an accurate article on the ceremony marking the award of a 
new AFCP grant to Turkmenistan's National Library for the 
conservation and restoration of rare books.  The following day, 
state-run dailies "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 49,091) 
and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 38,091) posted a similar story 
highlighting the event and emphasizing past conducted AFCP projects 
in Turkmenistan.  The same day, "Targeted News Service" (English), 
and on September 26, Azeri news agenc "Trend" (Russian, English) 
posted the Embassy press release on the topic.  On September 27, 
"Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese, 
Arabic, Persian, French) aired a separate program highlighting the 
event, following with accurate interview remarks by Charge 
d'Affaires and PAO, who stressed the role of AFCP in preserving 
Turkmenistan's cultural heritage.  PAO introduced embassy's Public 
Affairs activities in culture, education exchanges and information. 
The program largely used press release material on the event. 
 
STATE DAILY CARRIES ARTICLES ABOUT U.S. EMBASSY OFFICER, FULBRIGHT 
SCHOLAR AND FLEX PROGRAM 
 
¶6.  (U) On September 23, state-run daily "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" 
(Russian, circ. 49,091) ran an accurate article on U.S. Embassy 
Economic Officer Kristine Marsh, who had spent her last month as 
Acting PAO.  The article was based on an interview conducted by 
Viktoriya Nowikova, a Neytralniy Turkmenistan correspondent.  The 
story highlighted Marsh's tenure in Turkmenistan, her main 
activities and site visits, used her quotes praising the country and 
stressing the importance of education exchanges between U.S. and 
Turkmenistan.  The same story appeared on the government-run website 
"Turkmenistan Golden Age" (www.turkmenistan.gov.tm) (Turkmen, 
 
ASHGABAT 00001277  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Russian and English) on September 26. 
 
¶7.  (U) On September 25, "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 
49,091) printed a short article on visiting US Fulbright scholar 
Melda Yildiz.  The article described her active participation at the 
international scientific conference in Dashoguz and emphasized the 
various classes she offers for visitors at the Information Resource 
Center (IRC). 
 
¶8.  (U) Directly below the article about Dr. Yildiz the paper 
printed a long and favorable story about FLEX (Future Leaders 
Exchange) program.  The story mainly consisted of the interview 
remarks by program alumni, eagerly describing their U.S. high school 
and American family experiences.  The story showed the alumni's 
appreciation for the program and their families and friends in the 
U.S.  The article was an effective advertisement of the FLEX program 
among Turkmen youth.  The story also appeared on the government-run 
website "Turkmenistan Golden Age" (www.turkmenistan.gov.tm) 
(Turkmen, Russian and English) on September 26. 
 
OPPOSITION WEBSITES EXPRESS CONCERN FOR AUCA STUDENTS IN 
TURKMENISTAN 
 
¶9.  (U) On September 3, the opposition website "Chronika 
Turkmenistan" (English, Russian) posted a story about the difficult 
situation faced by Turkmen students not allowed to leave the country 
for AUCA (American University in Central Asia in Bishkek).  The 
story referred to an RFE/RL Turkmen Service correspondent's 
interview with U.S. Embassy spokesman William Stevens, and used his 
quotes, that the "US Embassy is working closely with the Government 
of Turkmenistan to resolve the issue." 
 
¶10.  (U) On September 5, "Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty" posted a 
story about the same matter based on an interview with U.S. Embassy 
spokesman William Stevens.  The story was accurate, and it 
emphasized Stevens' confirmation about Turkmen students have been 
denied exit from Turkmenistan to travel to AUCA. 
 
MEDIA HIGHLIGHT USAID ACTIVITIES IN TURKMENISTAN 
 
¶11.  (U) On September 15, state-run daily "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" 
(Russian, circ. 49,091) carried an accurate article on a 
USAID-sponsored conference dedicated to the completion of project 
HOPE in Turkmenistan.  The article outlined in brief the 
accomplishments of the project.  On September 18, "Targeted News 
Service" (English) posted an Embassy-issued press release on 
USAID/Counterpart's completion of the Community Empowerment Program. 
 On September 29, "Targeted News Service" (English) posted another 
press release on USAID-sponsored roundtable with the Turkmen 
Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, to discuss legislation for 
NGOs.  The following day, Azeri news agency "Trend" (Russian, 
English) posted an article on the same event referring to 
post-issued press-release. 
 
¶12.  (U) COMMENT:  September saw generally accurate and favorable 
media coverage of post conducted events.  As noted in reftel, 
Berdimuhamedov's trip to New York brought on a shower of stories 
about the U.S. and U.S. programs in Turkmenistan.  END COMMENT. 
 
CURRAN