Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ALMATY1027
2005-03-17 06:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED
US Office Almaty
Cable title:
USAID MEDIA TOUR IN ALMATY SUCCESSFULLY PROMOTES
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ALMATY 001027
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV KZ POLITICAL
SUBJECT: USAID MEDIA TOUR IN ALMATY SUCCESSFULLY PROMOTES
POSITIVE U.S. IMAGE AND HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIPS
UNCLAS ALMATY 001027
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV KZ POLITICAL
SUBJECT: USAID MEDIA TOUR IN ALMATY SUCCESSFULLY PROMOTES
POSITIVE U.S. IMAGE AND HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIPS
1. Summary: On March 10, the Ambassador hosted a day-long
Media Tour in Almaty, in an effort to increase Kazakhstani
public awareness of U.S. assistance projects. USAID's
Country Representative in Kazakhstan, Almaz Sharman, also
helped to "MC" the event. This was the fourth media tour in
a series of regional events undertaken by USAID (other tours
have been conducted in Shymkent, Osh and Dushanbe).
Journalists from more than a dozen media outlets attended,
representing Russian and Kazakh, television, radio, print
and news agency outlets. End summary.
--------------
Visits to a Range of Projects
--------------
2. The Media Tour began with a visit to the Kazhydromet,
where USAID has funded a water resources project and helped
to train water and meteorological specialists on data
collection and weather forecasting. Journalists viewed the
high tech weather collection equipment and interviewed local
specialists. The tour then proceeded to the Republican AIDS
Center, where journalists had a chance both to interview
resident doctors and to see the laboratory (donated with
U.S. funds) where HIV and AIDS tests are undertaken.
Journalists were then introduced to USAID's economic and
development project at the Almaty Kilem, an old Soviet
carpet factory. Almaty Kilem has been working with Pragma
and the Quality Management Center to become more efficient
and comply with international standards. The Ambassador
participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the
opening of their public store, an initiative started as part
of Almaty Kilem's marketing strategy, developed in part by
Pragma. The tour closed at the Ambassador's residence,
where journalists had the opportunity to meet alumni of U.S.
exchange programs, such as the Muskie program.
3. Journalists in attendance were engaged and asked many
questions, such as querying about the motivations behind
assistance programs both in Almaty and the Central Asia
region. The message that a stable and prosperous Kazakhstan
is in America's national interest was heard by all in
attendance. The Ambassador also took the opportunity to set
the record straight on the hot topic of the tour, the
Procuracy's launch of investigations of over 30 U.S.-funded
NGO's which had just become public that day.
--------------
Extensive Press Coverage
--------------
4. The news agencies Interfax and Kazinform posted stories
the same day, while the tour appeared in the March 11
editions of official daily Kazakhstanskaya Pravda, the
centrist weekly Panorama and pro-government daily Aikyn.
Highlights from the tour also appeared on the March 10
primetime news of three television channels: KTK, the
highest-rated; Channel 31, the most acclaimed; and and
Yuzhnaya Stolitsa, Almaty's municipal station. Channel 31
also featured the Ambassador's interview on a 10-minute
segment for the Sunday news analysis program, Sostoyaniye
KZ. The segment concluded with this quote: "The excursion
was successful. The Ambassador notes that maintaining
friendly relations is cheaper than confrontation and that is
why American money is everywhere in Kazakhstan. Funding
supports education for the most talented, scientific
innovators, the purchase of new equipment, the fight against
AIDS and malaria, and bold artistic ideas. The money is
accepted with pleasure. It seems that nobody but the
prosecutors doubts the charity of the American people."
5. Comment: In addition to the positive press coverage,
this event was a great example of USAID and other Embassy
officials working together to promote all aspects of U.S.
assistance. Previous tours have been organized and run
mainly by USAID staff. This round, the USAID public
outreach team successfully worked with each technical office
at USAID and the Embassy's Public Affairs Office was
intimately involved, especially the press officer and the
cultural affairs officer. The end result was that the media
tour better reflected to broad range of assistance we give.
End comment.
Ordway
NNNN
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV KZ POLITICAL
SUBJECT: USAID MEDIA TOUR IN ALMATY SUCCESSFULLY PROMOTES
POSITIVE U.S. IMAGE AND HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIPS
1. Summary: On March 10, the Ambassador hosted a day-long
Media Tour in Almaty, in an effort to increase Kazakhstani
public awareness of U.S. assistance projects. USAID's
Country Representative in Kazakhstan, Almaz Sharman, also
helped to "MC" the event. This was the fourth media tour in
a series of regional events undertaken by USAID (other tours
have been conducted in Shymkent, Osh and Dushanbe).
Journalists from more than a dozen media outlets attended,
representing Russian and Kazakh, television, radio, print
and news agency outlets. End summary.
--------------
Visits to a Range of Projects
--------------
2. The Media Tour began with a visit to the Kazhydromet,
where USAID has funded a water resources project and helped
to train water and meteorological specialists on data
collection and weather forecasting. Journalists viewed the
high tech weather collection equipment and interviewed local
specialists. The tour then proceeded to the Republican AIDS
Center, where journalists had a chance both to interview
resident doctors and to see the laboratory (donated with
U.S. funds) where HIV and AIDS tests are undertaken.
Journalists were then introduced to USAID's economic and
development project at the Almaty Kilem, an old Soviet
carpet factory. Almaty Kilem has been working with Pragma
and the Quality Management Center to become more efficient
and comply with international standards. The Ambassador
participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the
opening of their public store, an initiative started as part
of Almaty Kilem's marketing strategy, developed in part by
Pragma. The tour closed at the Ambassador's residence,
where journalists had the opportunity to meet alumni of U.S.
exchange programs, such as the Muskie program.
3. Journalists in attendance were engaged and asked many
questions, such as querying about the motivations behind
assistance programs both in Almaty and the Central Asia
region. The message that a stable and prosperous Kazakhstan
is in America's national interest was heard by all in
attendance. The Ambassador also took the opportunity to set
the record straight on the hot topic of the tour, the
Procuracy's launch of investigations of over 30 U.S.-funded
NGO's which had just become public that day.
--------------
Extensive Press Coverage
--------------
4. The news agencies Interfax and Kazinform posted stories
the same day, while the tour appeared in the March 11
editions of official daily Kazakhstanskaya Pravda, the
centrist weekly Panorama and pro-government daily Aikyn.
Highlights from the tour also appeared on the March 10
primetime news of three television channels: KTK, the
highest-rated; Channel 31, the most acclaimed; and and
Yuzhnaya Stolitsa, Almaty's municipal station. Channel 31
also featured the Ambassador's interview on a 10-minute
segment for the Sunday news analysis program, Sostoyaniye
KZ. The segment concluded with this quote: "The excursion
was successful. The Ambassador notes that maintaining
friendly relations is cheaper than confrontation and that is
why American money is everywhere in Kazakhstan. Funding
supports education for the most talented, scientific
innovators, the purchase of new equipment, the fight against
AIDS and malaria, and bold artistic ideas. The money is
accepted with pleasure. It seems that nobody but the
prosecutors doubts the charity of the American people."
5. Comment: In addition to the positive press coverage,
this event was a great example of USAID and other Embassy
officials working together to promote all aspects of U.S.
assistance. Previous tours have been organized and run
mainly by USAID staff. This round, the USAID public
outreach team successfully worked with each technical office
at USAID and the Embassy's Public Affairs Office was
intimately involved, especially the press officer and the
cultural affairs officer. The end result was that the media
tour better reflected to broad range of assistance we give.
End comment.
Ordway
NNNN