VZCZCXRO9420
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHAH #1418/01 3090331
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 050331Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3705
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3558
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5850
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RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 4092
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 4054
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 001418 
 
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 OCTOBER POST EVENTS 
 
ASHGABAT 00001418  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY:  In October, Turkmen media provided generally 
accurate coverage of post conducted activities.  At the beginning of 
month international media widely expressed U.S. concern over Turkmen 
government's efforts to prevent students from traveling to 
U.S.-linked schools.  Also, international websites carried stories 
on Turkmenistan denying entry to U.S. Peace Corps volunteers.  Media 
highlighted the opening of U.S. sponsored checkpoint at 
Turkmen-Uzbek border.  At the end of the month, media carried 
President Obama's message and U.S. Charg d'affaires' message 
congratulating Turkmenistan on its Independence Day.  USAID project 
activities also received accurate media coverage.  END SUMMARY. 
 
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA FOLLOWS U.S. CONCERN OVER STUDENT TRAVEL BAN 
 
¶2.  (U) On October 5th, the international media provided heavy and 
accurate coverage of the GOTX's denial of exit to USG-funded 
scholarship students attempting to travel to the American University 
in Bulgaria (AUBG).  The AP, AFP, and Reuters all carried 
on-the-record statements by the Embassy spokesman about the story. 
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (English) also carried several 
articles and on-the-air interviews with the Embassy spokesman on 
this topic throughout the month.  The original AP story served as a 
source for multiple similar articles which appeared on "The Canadian 
Press" (English), "EurasiaNet" (English), "Chronicle of Higher 
Education" (English) and Azeri news agency "Trend" (English). 
 
TURKMENISTAN SHUTS DOORS TO U.S. PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS 
 
¶3.  (U) On October 9th, the AP and AFP posted accurate articles on 
Turkmenistan's last minute decision to not allow 47 new US Peace 
Corps volunteers to come to Turkmenistan.  The stories described the 
situation and accurately quoted acting Peace Corps Country Director 
Chris Leal.  The AP linked its story to its previous article on U.S. 
criticism of the GOTX for the student travel ban, which, in their 
opinion, came out after President Berdimuhamedov's September meeting 
with Secretary of State Clinton.  On October 10, "Radio Free 
Europe/Radio Liberty" (English) also posted an accurate article 
referring to an RFE/RL interview with Mr. Leal. 
 
U.S. SPONSORSHIP OF THE CHECKPOINT ON TURKMEN-UZBEK BORDER GETS NO 
MENTION IN STATE MEDIA HIGHLIGHT 
 
¶4.  (U) Despite considerable efforts by post media personnel, 
state-run media ignored the U.S. involvement in the recently opened 
Farap border crossing installation.  On October 15th, Charge and 
others provided interviews to the state-run meda outlining how the 
U.S. had funded the new installation, but yet the media coverage of 
the event provided that evening on "Watan" TV (Turkmen) made no 
mention of U.S. involvement.  In fact, when showing members of the 
U.S. delegation on the video from the event, the TV anchor mentioned 
foreign visitors.  The same day, the government-run website 
"Turkmenistan Golden Age" (www.turkmenistan.gov.tm) (Turkmen, 
Russian and English) posted an article by TDH (Turkmen State News 
Service) highlighting the opening and praising the high-tech 
capabilities of the checkpoint but also made no mention of U.S. 
involvement.  The TDH story appeared in the state-run dailies 
"Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 49,091) and "Turkmenistan" 
(Turkmen, circ. 38,091) on October 16.  The same day, "Turkmenistan" 
TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabic, Persian, 
French) hourly news program carried the coverage referring to the 
"Watan" coverage. 
 
¶5.  (U) Unlike the state-controlled media, the foreign media clearly 
highlighted U.S. involvement in the event.  On October 15, the 
pro-government website "Turkmenistan.ru" (Russian, English) ran an 
accurate article on the opening heavily using the Embassy issued 
press release.  The same day, Azeri news agency "Trend" (Russian, 
English) and "Targeted News Service" (English) posted the Embassy 
press release.  On October 18, "ISRIA" (English) also posted the 
press release.  The following day, the "Times of Central Asia," 
referring to Azeri "Trend" article, posted an accurate article on 
the event. 
 
 
ASHGABAT 00001418  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
U.S. CONGRATULATES TURKMENISTAN ON ITS INDEPENDENCE DAY 
 
¶6.  (U) On October 23, the "Watan" TV evening news program 
accurately reported President Obama's congratulatory message to 
President Berdimuhammedov on the occasion of Turkmenistan's 
Independence holiday.  The message expressed the value of 
Turkmen-American relations and the U.S.' hope for further expanded 
cooperation.  The following day, the message appeared on the front 
pages of the state-run dailies "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian, 
circ. 49,091) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 38,091), was posted 
on pro-government website "Turkmenistan.ru" (Russian, English), and 
was reported in the hourly news program of "Turkmenistan" TV channel 
(Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabic, Persian, French).  On 
October 28, Azeri "Trend" (English) posted President Obama's message 
referring to the state-run media. 
 
¶7.  (U) On October 26th "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, 
English, Chinese, Arabic, Persian, French) carried an Independence 
Day congratulatory message by the U.S. Charge d'Affaires.  On 
October 29th, the state "Altyn Asyr" TV channel borrowed the 
Charge's congratulatory speech from the "Turkmenistan" TV channel 
and replayed the same piece but attributed several inaccurate 
phrases to the Charge, all extolling the virtues of President 
Berdimuhammedov. 
 
STATE MEDIA HIGHLIGHT THE MEETING OF TURKMEN-U.S. BUSINESS COUNCIL 
 
¶8.  (U) On October 28, the government-run website "Turkmenistan 
Golden Age" (www.turkmenistan.gov.tm) (Turkmen, Russian and English) 
posted an accurate article by TDH on the meeting of the Turkmen-U.S. 
business council (TUBC) held on that day.  The same day the "Watan" 
TV evening news program accurately highlighted the event.  The 
program introduced the meeting as a new step in strengthening 
fruitful interstate cooperation, and carried the opening remarks by 
the Executive Director Mr. Eric Stuart.  On October 29, the 
state-run dailies "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 49,091) 
and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 38,091) posted the same TDH story 
on their front pages.  On October 30, "RIA OREANDA" (Russian) and 
the pro-government website "Turkmenistan.ru" (Russian, English) also 
posted accurate stories on the meeting, referencing the state media 
report. 
 
MEDIA HIGHLIGHT USAID PROJECTS IN TURKMENISTAN 
 
¶9.  (U) On October 9, "Targeted News Service" (English) posted the 
Embassy issued press release on USAID reviewing the results of its 
10-year Health project "ZdravPlus".  On October 16, the same news 
agency posted the Embassy issued press release on USAID/EREC 
(Economic reforms to enhance competitiveness) project to support 
Turkmen public auditors in analyzing investment projects.  The 
following day the Azeri news agency "Trend" (Russian) posted the 
same press release. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) COMMENT:  The state-run media is most often willing to 
provide accurate coverage of U.S. programs when it shines a positive 
light on the GOTX.  Sometimes the media has been willing to 
highlight U.S. assistance programs, but for some as yet inexplicable 
reason, someone decided it was best not to mention the massive U.S. 
involvement in the Farap border crossing.  Post efforts to clarify 
the reason with editors and journalist involved in the story only 
led to inconclusive obfuscation.  END COMMENT. 
 
CURRAN