VZCZCXRO5858
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHAH #1399 3060633
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 020633Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3678
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5832
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3540
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3402
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 4074
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1226
RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 4040
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001399 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM SCUL SOCI TX
SUBJECT:  TURKMENISTAN:  NGO HOLDS SEMINAR ON MASS MEDIA AND 
DEMOCRATIZATION 
 
¶1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified.  Not for Internet distribution 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY:  A local NGO recently held a public seminar on the 
role of mass media in the democratization of society.  Topics 
covered included an overview on the legal sphere of mass media 
activity, a comparative analysis of mass media legislation in 
Central Asian countries, the role of mass media in society and mass 
media coverage of the geopolitical situation involving the Caspian 
Sea.  Government representatives were invited, but did not attend 
the event, thus the official view on these topics was not presented. 
 Nevertheless, the lively discussion by the participants indicated 
strong public interest in the issues of media freedom.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
¶3. (SBU) At the October 23 seminar, the director of NGO Bosfor, 
Zalina Rossoshanskaya, opened the event saying that the seminar 
"Role of Mass Media in Democratization of Society" was held within 
the framework of the project Legal Clinic, with support of the U.S. 
and UK Embassies.  The project would include six seminars, with this 
being the third.  Previous seminars discussed the penitentiary 
system and new labor legislation.  Bosfor applied for the U.S. 
Embassy grant of USD 2,900 in 2007 for its project "Mobile Legal 
Clinic" to provide training and legal consultations to vulnerable 
parts of the population, and started implementing the project in 
¶2009. 
 
NO "PRIVATE" MASS MEDIA ALLOWED BY LAW 
 
¶4. (SBU) In the course of the seminar, Rossoshanskaya gave an 
overview of the legal sphere of mass media activity.  She said that 
in Turkmenistan, mass media activity is governed by the Law on Print 
Media of 1991 and article five of the Constitution.  The Print Media 
Law declares freedom of media, bans censorship, and defines the 
structure and organization of media, its interaction with 
government, and media's sphere of responsibility.  According to the 
Law, institutions of state power, political parties, public 
organizations, mass unions, and creative organizations, but neither 
individuals nor foreign entities, may establish media outlets in the 
country.  Rossoshanskaya explained that there is no notion of 
"private mass media". 
 
¶5. (SBU) Rossoshanskaya also made a comparative analysis of mass 
media legislation in Central Asian countries.  Her presentation was 
followed by a lively question and answer session during which 
participants raised issues such as censorship, mass media language, 
and inability of local journalists working for foreign mass media to 
get accreditation in Turkmenistan.  Yusup Kuliyev, an expert on 
economic and political issues and correspondent for the BBC Russian 
Service in Central Asia, delivered a presentation on the role of 
mass media in society.  He also talked about mass media's coverage 
of the geopolitical situation and legal status of Caspian Sea. 
 
NO PARTICIPATION FROM STATE AGENCIES 
 
¶6. (SBU) The event gathered around 20 participants from local NGOs, 
journalists, youth, teachers and students of local grade schools. 
Despite receiving the invitation, no government representatives 
attended the event.  Participants at the event underscored the need 
for new mass media legislation that would allow more media freedom 
in practice. 
 
¶7. (SBU) COMMENT:  The absence of state mass media representatives 
at the event was noteworthy given that the subject matter dealt 
directly with their profession.  They likely have instructions to 
avoid public discussion of the topic.  Still, their views would have 
contributed to the overall discussion, and they might have benefited 
from hearing public views on the subject.  In their absence, 
discussion at the event lacked a worthy counterpoint.  END COMMENT. 
 
CURRAN