TURKMENISTAN: STATE MEDIA INFORMATIVE ON USTDA DELEGATION

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 00048 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID ECON KPAO OIIP TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STATE MEDIA INFORMATIVE ON USTDA DELEGATION VISIT ¶1. (U) State media provided positive and informative coverage on the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) delegation visit, headed by its regional director Dan Stein. The delegation held talks at ministries and agencies August 6-11, 2007. STATE MEDIA ANNOUNCES DELEGATION VISITING TURKMENISTAN ¶2. (U) On August 6, State Watan TV News program announced the USTDA delegation visiting Turkmenistan to discuss possibilities of partnership in trade and economy, including joint projects in Turkmenistan. The news report listed names of ministries and agencies with whom the delegation would hold meetings. The broadcast also noted the delegation's trip to Balkan and Mary provinces, including their meetings with representatives of foreign companies, "Burren Energy" and "Dragon Oil." Video scenes showed the delegation having discussions at several ministries. The following day, state dailies "Neutral Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 39.091) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 28,091) published an article with similar content from Watan TV News program. ¶3. (U) COMMENT: State media have continued their efforts to give more informative and broad coverage in its news content related to delegations from the United States. State media broadly and accurately covered this visit, because of the new policy of news coverage that shows Turkmenistan as a positive, dynamic player in foreign affairs. HOAGLAND