Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASHGABAT716
2007-07-20 08:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
STATE MEDIA GIVES UNSOLICITED, POSITIVE COVERAGE OF PDAS
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UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000716
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, DRL, ECA, IIP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL KMDR KPAO OIIP TX
SUBJECT: STATE MEDIA GIVES UNSOLICITED, POSITIVE COVERAGE OF PDAS
MANN
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000716
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, DRL, ECA, IIP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL KMDR KPAO OIIP TX
SUBJECT: STATE MEDIA GIVES UNSOLICITED, POSITIVE COVERAGE OF PDAS
MANN
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (U) State media provided positive but limited coverage of
Principal Deputy Secretary of State for South and Central Asian
Affairs meetings on July 12. International media borrowed text
straight from state coverage or paraphrased its content. The oddity
of the coverage is that it appeared before post distributed its
press release and it covered lower level meetings. END SUMMARY.
MEDIA BRIEF AND POSITIVE ON ENERGY COOPERATION
-------------- -
2. (U) The June 12 state Watan TV News broadcast on Mann's
delegation detailed the senior level of his position and his
intention to improve the bilateral partnership with cooperation in
the energy sector specifically stated as a priority. The story
detailed the delegation's itinerary at the Cabinet of Ministers,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Agency on the Management and
Utilization of Hydrocarbon Resources under the Turkmen President,
and the Ministry of Economy and Finance but did not list who the
delegation met with. The Watan TV story concluded that both sides
agreed to "intensify interstate dialogue for mutual benefit." On
July 13, state dailies "Neutral Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ.
39,091) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 28,091) gave front-page
treatment to an article with similar content to Watan TV News. In
subsequent days, state weeklies "Turkmen Gundogary" (Turkmen, circ.
45,050),"Beyik Turkmenbashi Nesli" (Turkmen, circ. 22,291) and
"Habarlar" (Turkmen, circ. 3,596) also gave front-page treatment to
the same article from the dailies. The official "Neutral
Turkmenistan" newspaper's website "Turkmenistan Golden Age"
(Russian, English) carried a slight re-wording of the same content
of the Watan TV broadcast. The pro-government Turkmenistan.ru
website posted an article with similar content to the broadcasts.
It also used a quote from the Watan TV broadcast, cited as "the
official statement," that emphasized the desire of both parties to
increase cooperation and that cooperation in the energy sector was a
priority. EurasiaNet posted a copy of the Watan TV broadcast and
cited its source correctly. The Turan Information Agency (Russian),
based in Azerbaijan, posted a brief article with similar content to
Watan TV news.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (U) While brief, on their own initiative all state and
pro-government independent media made a point of providing positive
and specific information on the Mann visit in a variety of
languages. In most cases, a presidential meeting or significant
pressing of state media contacts by the Public Affairs section are
the only way to get a visitor into the state media. Additionally,
state media usually ignore lower level meetings, which were
highlighted in this case. The broad and unsolicited coverage of the
visit enforces a trend that the state media are actively trying to
promote the perception of an active and positive partnership with
the United States amongst its own people and international
community, especially in the field of energy.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, DRL, ECA, IIP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL KMDR KPAO OIIP TX
SUBJECT: STATE MEDIA GIVES UNSOLICITED, POSITIVE COVERAGE OF PDAS
MANN
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (U) State media provided positive but limited coverage of
Principal Deputy Secretary of State for South and Central Asian
Affairs meetings on July 12. International media borrowed text
straight from state coverage or paraphrased its content. The oddity
of the coverage is that it appeared before post distributed its
press release and it covered lower level meetings. END SUMMARY.
MEDIA BRIEF AND POSITIVE ON ENERGY COOPERATION
-------------- -
2. (U) The June 12 state Watan TV News broadcast on Mann's
delegation detailed the senior level of his position and his
intention to improve the bilateral partnership with cooperation in
the energy sector specifically stated as a priority. The story
detailed the delegation's itinerary at the Cabinet of Ministers,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Agency on the Management and
Utilization of Hydrocarbon Resources under the Turkmen President,
and the Ministry of Economy and Finance but did not list who the
delegation met with. The Watan TV story concluded that both sides
agreed to "intensify interstate dialogue for mutual benefit." On
July 13, state dailies "Neutral Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ.
39,091) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 28,091) gave front-page
treatment to an article with similar content to Watan TV News. In
subsequent days, state weeklies "Turkmen Gundogary" (Turkmen, circ.
45,050),"Beyik Turkmenbashi Nesli" (Turkmen, circ. 22,291) and
"Habarlar" (Turkmen, circ. 3,596) also gave front-page treatment to
the same article from the dailies. The official "Neutral
Turkmenistan" newspaper's website "Turkmenistan Golden Age"
(Russian, English) carried a slight re-wording of the same content
of the Watan TV broadcast. The pro-government Turkmenistan.ru
website posted an article with similar content to the broadcasts.
It also used a quote from the Watan TV broadcast, cited as "the
official statement," that emphasized the desire of both parties to
increase cooperation and that cooperation in the energy sector was a
priority. EurasiaNet posted a copy of the Watan TV broadcast and
cited its source correctly. The Turan Information Agency (Russian),
based in Azerbaijan, posted a brief article with similar content to
Watan TV news.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (U) While brief, on their own initiative all state and
pro-government independent media made a point of providing positive
and specific information on the Mann visit in a variety of
languages. In most cases, a presidential meeting or significant
pressing of state media contacts by the Public Affairs section are
the only way to get a visitor into the state media. Additionally,
state media usually ignore lower level meetings, which were
highlighted in this case. The broad and unsolicited coverage of the
visit enforces a trend that the state media are actively trying to
promote the perception of an active and positive partnership with
the United States amongst its own people and international
community, especially in the field of energy.
HOAGLAND