POSITIVE MEDIA COVERAGE OF PDAS MANN'S MAY VISIT TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000587 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: POSITIVE MEDIA COVERAGE OF PDAS MANN'S MAY VISIT TO TURKMENISTAN Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Steven Mann's May 30-June 1 visit to Turkmenistan, at the head of a high-level energy delegation, received wide and positive coverage in state media. The delegation included Regional Director for Europe and Asia of the U.S. Agency for Trade and Development Dan Stein, Director of the Department of Russia and Eurasia at the U.S. Department of Energy Lana Ekimoff, Executive Director of the Eurasian Bank of Reconstruction and Development Mark Sullivan, and Energy Analyst Wendell Coote. State media covered only Mann's May 31 meeting with President Berdimuhammedov, not his other ministry meetings or his June 1 press conference. International news outlets sent representatives to the June 1 conference, who provided mostly accurate coverage of Mann's remarks. End Summary. State Media Accurate and Positive on Mann's Meeting with President Berdimuhammedov -------------- -- ¶2. (SBU) On May 31, Watan TV news program (Turkmen-language) gave positive and accurate coverage of Mann's meeting with President Berdimuhammedov. The broadcast reported that the two agreed that long-lasting successful cooperation would be both in the interest of their people and further the purpose of common security. The broadcast noted that cooperation in the energy sector was the main topic of the discussion and stated that Mann said American companies were ready to become involved in the development of Turkmenistan's energy sector. Both sides were confident that this was a positive step. The broadcast accurately delivered Mann's statement, given in Russian, following his meeting with the president. (Note: Post provided translation of Mann's statement in Turkmen to Watan TV news program, which aired it in full. End Note.) Mann emphasized that the United States wanted to support President Berdimuhammedov's vision of a prosperous, independent Turkmenistan and to attract viable international investment. Mann also stressed that U.S. policy on the development of alternative pipelines has remained unchanged over the past decade. The broadcast included the names and positions of three of the four delegation members, omitting Coote. It noted that Mann previously served as Ambassador to Turkmenistan from 1998-2001 and made great positive, personal contributions to Turkmenistan-U.S. relations. ¶3. (U) The following day, state dailies "Neutral Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 34,701) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 28,091) gave front-page treatment to an article about the meeting, similar to the Watan TV broadcast. The government website "Turkmenistan-Golden Age" (www.turkmenistan.gov.tm, Russian, English) carried the same article. On subsequent days, state regional weeklies and most state industry journals reprinted the same article, per usual practice; it also appeared on state news website TURKMENISTAN.RU (English, Russian). ¶4. (U) Russian news agencies Interfax (Russian, English), Finmarkert (Russian) and Azerbaijan-based news agency Day.Az (Russian) relied heavily on Turkmenistan state media coverage for their own reports. Foreign Media Positive on Mann's Interview Statements -------------- -------------- ¶5. (U) On June 1, Mann held a press briefing with international stringers that resulted in generally accurate and positive same-day coverage in international media. ITAR-TASS (Russian, English) and Reuters (Russian, English) reported that United States' policy toward construction of a Trans-Caspian gas pipeline had remained unchanged. ITAR-TASS reported, accurately reflecting Mann's statements, that the United States continued to support the project, as well as other pipeline projects such as the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline, and a pipeline to China. Reuters (Russian) carried Mann's statement that the United States opposed any pipeline development or expansion into Iran. ¶6. (U) ITAR-TASS reported that Mann expressed hope that President Berdimuhammedov would do his utmost to create favorable investment conditions for international businesses in Turkmenistan's commercial projects. Agence France Presse quoted Mann that President Berdimuhammedov expressed "a positive orientation toward inviting foreign investors into Turkmenistan. This will be a long process." Reuters carried Mann's words that U.S. experts were ready to assist Turkmenistan in setting up a favorable investment climate, and believed there was enough gas to supply Russia and to do a Trans-Caspian pipeline as well. On June 2, Azerbaijan-based news agency Azer-Press (Russian, English) reprinted content from the ASHGABAT 00000587 002 OF 002 Reuters and Agence France Presse reports. On subsequent days, news agencies Trend-Azerbaijan (Russian) and Georgian Business Consulting (Russian) carried similar content to that in the ITAR-TASS and Reuters coverage. Russian News Agency Misquotes Mann's Statement -------------- - ¶7. (U) ITAR-TASS (Russian, English) misrepresented Mann's statement about U.S.-Iran policy, in June 1 coverage of his visit, suggesting that U.S. policy opposing pipeline development or expansion into Iran was the primary reason for a lack of such efforts by private companies. According to ITAR-TASS, "he reaffirmed that, in compliance with the U.S. current policy and laws, the routes running through the Iranian territory could not be attractive for private companies." In fact, Mann said that, wholly apart from U.S. policy, the private sector regarded commercial conditions in Iran less attractive to them than those for Trans-Caspian or other routes. COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (U). Mann's visit received generally positive and accurate coverage in state media, as in international news outlets -- many of which, particularly in the immediate region, continue to draw heavily from Turkmenistan state sources. The press-briefing assured Mann's message received broader international attention and provided an opportunity to give more sophisticated commentary on the visit and U.S. policy than that represented in Turkmenistan's state media. End Comment. BRUSH