Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BISHKEK1311
2006-09-13 02:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:  

PRESS COVERAGE OF 9/11 EVENTS

Tags:  PREL PGOV KPAO KG 
pdf how-to read a cable
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UNCLAS BISHKEK 001311 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND SCA/PPD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO KG
SUBJECT: PRESS COVERAGE OF 9/11 EVENTS

REF: BISHKEK 1303

Sensitive But Unclassified. Not for Internet Distribution

UNCLAS BISHKEK 001311

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND SCA/PPD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO KG
SUBJECT: PRESS COVERAGE OF 9/11 EVENTS

REF: BISHKEK 1303

Sensitive But Unclassified. Not for Internet Distribution


1. (U) Local press provided wide coverage of the ceremony at
Manas Air Base commemorating the 5th anniversary of the
September 11 attacks (see reftel). Because of the
participation of President Bakiyev, Prime Minister Kulov,
Speaker of Parliament Sulanov, and Azreti Mufti Jumanov
coverage of the event was particularly strong in government
controlled media. KTR Channel 1 - the only national channel
- KOORT, NTS, and NBT all dedicated portions of their evening
news hour to the event. These channels together give
potential coverage throughout the entire country. In the
newspapers, government-oriented Slovo Kyrgyzstan, state-owned
Kyrgyz Tuusu, and pro-government MSN printed articles
describing the base ceremony. The total circulation of these
three papers is approximately 27,000. Wire services AKIpress
and 24.kg also printed articles on the ceremony. Most other
papers only print weekly, and will only be out later in the
week.


2. (SBU) All the media outlets confined themselves to
describing the ceremony, reprinting portions of the
Ambassador,s and President,s remarks, describing the base
tour by the President, and briefly covering the President,s
impromptu press conference at the end of his tour. The
ceremony was either the first piece in the news broadcast or
on the first page of papers with pictures. None of the
outlets made any editorial comments on the ceremony or
slanted their coverage in an anti-American way. This is
especially noteworthy since some outlets, 24.kg being the
primary example, look for any excuse to add an anti-U.S.
twist to their reporting.


3. (U) Some of the independent television stations also
covered the 9/11 event featuring the visiting Citizens
Dialogue Tour group, consisting of a Muslim student and
professional, both women, visiting Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan,
and engaging with students and other members of civil
society. This group spoke to a standing room only group of
women students and scholars at the Islamic University. Press
coverage of these two events provided a very rich and broad
picture of the solemn commemoration of 9/11 plus our attempts
at strengthening bilateral ties with Kyrgyzstan and reaching
out to the grassroots.
YOVANOVITCH