TURKMENISTAN MEDIA IGNORES ALL MAJOR POST NEWS IN NOVEMBER

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001250 SIPDIS STATE FOR INR/R/MR, IIP/T, IIP/G/NEA-SA, SA SCA/CEN, SCA/PAB, SCA/INS, SCA/RA, SCA/PPD, DRL CENTCOM PUBLIC AFFAIRS-MAJ.BALDWIN/SGT. BAKER USCINCPAC FOR POLAD R. HUSO SECDEF FOR PA SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP PREL PGOV AF TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN MEDIA IGNORES ALL MAJOR POST NEWS IN NOVEMBER REF: Embassy Press Releases on 11/01/06, 11/14/06 and 11/21/06 SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) Turkmenistan's state media coverage of post events in November included uncharacteristic omission of three significant news items: the November 10 opening of the Altyn Asyr border crossing checkpoint, a change in U.S. non-immigrant visa application policy and the November 21 Peace Corps donation of wheelchairs. Meanwhile Bishkek-based Times of Central Asia gave positive coverage to the border event, while the India-based Hindustan Times gave accurate and full coverage of the visa announcement and the wheelchair distribution. End Summary. FOREIGN COVERAGE ONLY OF THE BORDER CHECKPOINT OPENING -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) State media omitted coverage of the Altyn Asyr checkpoint opening. The Times of Central Asia's November 20 coverage of the checkpoint opening was based heavily on post's November 14 press release, and provided such detail as the site size (25,000 square meters) and funds spent on the project (over $2.5 million). It noted that Turkmenistan and the Nevada National Guard have been linked for more that 11 years under the State Partnership Program. It also stated that the National Nevada Guard provided three guardsmen and hundreds of hours of manhours to ensure the success of the project. The report quoted the current project manager, retired Col. John (sic) Morrow, who stated that "this station is an example of what two countries working together can accomplish in the fight against international narcotics trafficking." STATE MEDIA OMITS WHEELCHAIR DISTRIBUTION CEREMONY -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) Turkmenistan's state media failed to cover a November 21 event in which the Peace Corps donated 280 wheelchairs to the Physical Culture and Sports Club for the Disabled. On November 21, newswires U.S. Fed News (English) and Hindustan Times (English) reprinted post's press release. NO LOCAL COVERAGE OF U.S. VISA APPLICATION CHANGES -------------- -------------- ¶4. (U) State media omitted any coverage of the announcement that all non-immigrant visa applicants must use the Electronic Visa Application Form starting November 1. Newswires U.S. Fed News and Hindustan Times reprinted post's press release. COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (U) In the past state media have provided moderate coverage of embassy events, in particular if the government's role also could be expressed positively. Lack of coverage of the Altyn Asyr checkpoint, then, is surprising. Post will continue to follow this trend of decreasing state media coverage, but notes that state media coverage has very little correlation with public opinion in Turkmenistan. END COMMENT. BRUSH Drafter: IMA: Meylis Hummedov, x2178 Cleared: PAO: PAUL CHG: BRUSH