Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUSHANBE359
2006-02-24 11:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dushanbe
Cable title:
IN TAJIKISTAN, THIS WEEK'S MEDIA BOUT GOES TO IRAN
VZCZCXRO7563 PP RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHDBU #0359 0551100 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 241100Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6777 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1396 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1437 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 1426 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 1377 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 1323 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1393 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1351 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1290 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1196 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 0770 RUMICEA/USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1444 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1479 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0977 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 7892
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000359
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PAB, SCA/INS, SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP PREL PGOV IR TI
SUBJECT: IN TAJIKISTAN, THIS WEEK'S MEDIA BOUT GOES TO IRAN
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000359
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PAB, SCA/INS, SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP PREL PGOV IR TI
SUBJECT: IN TAJIKISTAN, THIS WEEK'S MEDIA BOUT GOES TO IRAN
1. Groundbreaking for the Iran-funded Sangtuda-2 hydropower
station dominated weekly press coverage, from Tajik and Russian
Internet agencies to radio, television, and print media news
outlets. This followed heavy government and independent media
attention on last week's announcement of the imminent completion
of the Iran-funded Anzob tunnel linking southern Tajikistan with
its northern territory.
2. In recent weeks, the government-owned media, including Tajik
television stations, has given Iran the heavy coverage and
positive press it usually gives to Russia. Concerning
Sangtuda-2, President Rahmonov stated, "This is not Iran's last
contribution . . . Tajikistan and Iran have resumed cooperation
after a hiatus of many years. Iran was among the first
countries to recognize the independence of Tajikistan."
Rahmonov lauded the "billion kilowatt hours a year" that
Sangtuda-2 should produce and the great help that Iran is to the
people of Tajikistan.
3. In addition to these two Iranian building projects, the
Tajik media recently began to highlight Iranian Ambassador to
Tajikistan Nosir Sarmadi Porso's political statements about
Iran's right to possess nuclear energy and a host of issues not
specifically concerning Tajik-Iranian bilateral interests.
Tajik and Iranian political leaders alike never fail to mention
the close historical and linguistic similarities between the two
nations.
4. COMMENT: Local Embassy staff were the first to pick up on
the shift in media attention on Iran, noting the daily
television coverage, front-page newspaper articles, and the
elevation of Tajik-Iranian relations, from construction to
high-level visits. In addition to the rhetoric of culture
closeness, Iran is letting its investments speak for its
relations with Tajikistan - Sangtuda-2 and the Anzob Tunnel will
cost hundreds of millions to complete over the next few years -
and the Tajik media, directed and independent are paying
attention. END COMMENT.
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PAB, SCA/INS, SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP PREL PGOV IR TI
SUBJECT: IN TAJIKISTAN, THIS WEEK'S MEDIA BOUT GOES TO IRAN
1. Groundbreaking for the Iran-funded Sangtuda-2 hydropower
station dominated weekly press coverage, from Tajik and Russian
Internet agencies to radio, television, and print media news
outlets. This followed heavy government and independent media
attention on last week's announcement of the imminent completion
of the Iran-funded Anzob tunnel linking southern Tajikistan with
its northern territory.
2. In recent weeks, the government-owned media, including Tajik
television stations, has given Iran the heavy coverage and
positive press it usually gives to Russia. Concerning
Sangtuda-2, President Rahmonov stated, "This is not Iran's last
contribution . . . Tajikistan and Iran have resumed cooperation
after a hiatus of many years. Iran was among the first
countries to recognize the independence of Tajikistan."
Rahmonov lauded the "billion kilowatt hours a year" that
Sangtuda-2 should produce and the great help that Iran is to the
people of Tajikistan.
3. In addition to these two Iranian building projects, the
Tajik media recently began to highlight Iranian Ambassador to
Tajikistan Nosir Sarmadi Porso's political statements about
Iran's right to possess nuclear energy and a host of issues not
specifically concerning Tajik-Iranian bilateral interests.
Tajik and Iranian political leaders alike never fail to mention
the close historical and linguistic similarities between the two
nations.
4. COMMENT: Local Embassy staff were the first to pick up on
the shift in media attention on Iran, noting the daily
television coverage, front-page newspaper articles, and the
elevation of Tajik-Iranian relations, from construction to
high-level visits. In addition to the rhetoric of culture
closeness, Iran is letting its investments speak for its
relations with Tajikistan - Sangtuda-2 and the Anzob Tunnel will
cost hundreds of millions to complete over the next few years -
and the Tajik media, directed and independent are paying
attention. END COMMENT.
WILSON