Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASHGABAT1250
2006-12-08 08:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

TURKMENISTAN MEDIA IGNORES ALL MAJOR POST NEWS IN NOVEMBER

Tags:  KMDR KPAO OIIP PREL PGOV AF TX 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9925
RR RUEHDBU RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #1250 3420848
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080848Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8071
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
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
-------

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