TURKMENISTAN: INTRODUCTORY INTERNEWS VISIT -- "TWO OUT OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001338

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, DRL, AND EUR/ACE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: INTRODUCTORY INTERNEWS VISIT -- "TWO OUT OF
THREE AIN'T BAD"


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.


2. (U) SUMMARY: On November 28-29, representatives from Internews
and USAID met with the Minister of Culture, a group of Mejlis
(Parliament) deputies, and Turkmen State University's initial class
of future journalists to discuss possible areas for new cooperation.
The November 28 meeting with the Minister of Culture and heads of
state television stations remained formal, but participants were
very interested in receiving more information about Internews. On
the other hand, November 29 meetings with the Mejlis and journalism
faculties yielded clear next steps that should help separate
traditional Turkmen hospitality from a serious desire to cooperate.
END SUMMARY.

MINISTRY OF CULTURE FORMAL, BUT CORDIAL


3. (U) USAID and its implementing partner for media projects,
Internews Network in Central Asia, met November 28 with Minister of
Culture and Broadcasting Kakageldi Chayyardurdyev and
representatives from state television stations. The Minister
praised the close contact and constructive dialogue with the U.S.
Embassy in Turkmenistan. Participants listened with interest to an
overview of USAID's media work and programs implemented by
Internews. No specific follow-up was requested by the Ministry at
this time. However, the Minister and the head of the international
department were aware of the planned USAID-funded Community
Connections on media sector development trip scheduled for February
2008 and indicated they planned to nominate participants.

MEJLIS WANTS EXAMPLES OF NEW MEDIA LAWS


4. (U) On November 29, the group met with the head of parliament's
Committee on Science and Education and a member of the Committee on
Intergovernmental and Inter-parliamentary Relations. The Committee
head called work to improve mass media "useful" and "needed," and
asked technical questions on how Internews' projects to distribute
program content to local stations worked. Additionally, he
mentioned a newly established governmental commission that will
develop new laws governing mass media, including advertising. The
deputies expressed an interest in receiving examples of media laws
from a range of other countries and were aware of the Community
Connections trip planned for February 2008, in which they indicated
a willingness to participate.

FUTURE JOURNALISTS LOOK FOR ROLE MODELS


5. (U) At Turkmen State University, the delegation met the
journalism faculty's ten current students and three staff members on
November 29. The current faculty was re-established this year, so
the six women and four men represented Turkmenistan's entire
existing cadre of future journalists. Internews' regional director
provided an overview of their activities and established a common
bond with the senior staff member when the professor learned that
they shared a number of professional acquaintances. USAID's
regional media specialist, herself a former U.S. exchange alumna,
received special interest from the faculty and students and was
asked to "tell the story" of how she arrived at her current
position. The senior faculty member expressed considerable interest
in distance learning programs for journalists and asked for any
possible teaching materials that could be used in the classroom.
Following the discussions, the students and faculty alike surrounded
the delegation for the opportunity to ask questions and take
pictures with the visitors.


6. (U) COMMENT: Overall, this was a good first visit by Internews
that demonstrated several possible opportunities to work under its
existing USAID agreement in Turkmenistan's still largely closed
media sector. Internews will compile examples of media laws from a
range of countries for submission to the parliament in the nearest
future. Consistent with its existing USAID agreement, it will also
offer to conduct a workshop for MPs on "International Standards in
Media Legislation," which will serve as an indicator of the
seriousness of the parliament's intent to cooperate. For the

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journalism faculty, an initial step toward cooperation will be to
provide examples of textbooks that Internews has developed for use
in other countries. The possibility of developing a training
program for journalists, as suggested by the MFA representative in
the hallway after the meeting, is an idea for future consideration,
but would require additional funding. END COMMENT.

CURRAN