TURKMENISTAN GOVERNMENT LIMITS COVERAGE OF POST EVENTS IN

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000301 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 GOVERNMENT LIMITS COVERAGE OF POST EVENTS IN FEBRUARY REFS: (A) Ashgabat 215, (B) Ashgabat 216 SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) State media gave broad positive coverage on Assistant Secretary Richard A. Boucher's meeting with President SIPDIS Berdimuhammedov on February 15, both on state TV and print media. However, host government's effort to ban local coverage of A/S Boucher's appearance at the Turkmenabat Pedagogical Institute was successful. Host government also stalled on publication of an article about the full range of embassy's exchange programs in the country. End Summary. Omission of Post-Conducted Events on Boucher's Visit -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) Regardless of post's efforts to facilitate coverage of Assistant Secretary Boucher's February 16 visit to Turkmenabat City in Lebap Province, and his press briefing with journalists, state media omitted both of the events. (Comment: Post also sent transcripts from both of the events to the state news agency and made continuous efforts to coordinate journalists' attendance in Turkmenabat through Turkmenistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. End Comment.) Local Journalist Favorably but Inappropriately Presents Article on U.S. Exchange Programs -------------- ¶3. (U) On February 14, a local journalist from the state daily "Neutral Turkmenistan" newspaper (Russian, circ. 34,701) posted an article about the embassy's exchange programs on the government-owned Russian language website: http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/ "XXI vek-zolotoy vek Turkmenistana" (21 century-golden century of Turkmenistan). The author favorably and accurately used post-supplied background materials. However, the author inappropriately presented the embassy FSN, the journalist's point of contact, as if he had given an interview, in spite of the fact that post specifically requested that the FSN not be cited. Post requested that any subsequent print version remove references to the FSN. Additionally, post submitted a dipnote to support article's publication in state print outlets - please clear up this language, I'm confused by what happened here. Nevertheless, the government is still considering the issue. (Comment: The article was the author's own initiative, but was prompted by the new president's support for exchange programs. End Comment.) COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (SBU) In[B1] contrast to other steps towards reform in Turkmenistan, there have been no public decrees or pronouncements about creating a more open media environment. Overall, the month of February was evidence that old habits continued to prevail. It is noteworthy that events and press coverage thus far in March (septel) have provided small but significant signs of greater openness in the state-controlled media. End Comment. BRUSH Drafted: IMA MHummedov 03/05/2007 Q:\Media Assistant\Media Reactions\Cables\2007\Monthly MRCs 2007\February\20070305 MRCablel - February.doc Cleared: PAO [B1] Be careful of platitudes, that's why I deleted the sentence below.