Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASHGABAT830
2007-08-10 11:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN PROTESTS "NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLES"
how-toVZCZCXRO7077 PP RUEHAG RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHAH #0830 2221152 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 101152Z AUG 07 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9175 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNOSC/OSCE POST COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 2650 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0477 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 0515 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0537 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2225 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 0264 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1021 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0346 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1751 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0526
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000830
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, R, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN PROTESTS "NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLES"
Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000830
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, R, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN PROTESTS "NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLES"
Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) Embassy received a diplomatic note dated August 7
protesting the series of articles C.J. Chivers published in
"The New York Times" after he accompanied Commander CENTCOM
Admiral Fallon to Turkmenistan June 19-20. The dip note
pointedly reminded Embassy Ashgabat it had supported Chivers'
inclusion in the Fallon delegation, and concluded, as a
result of Chivers' articles, Turkmenistan's "honor in the
international arena has been diminished." The diplomatic
note requested "the U.S. side to prevent such actions from
happening in the future."
2. (C) During his weekly business meeting with Foreign
Ministry Americas Department Director Serdar Bashimov on
August 10, Charge said he was disinclined to reply to the dip
note, but solicited Bashimov's advice. Bashimov agreed the
better part of valor was not to reply.
3. (C) Charge told Bashimov Turkmenistan's international
reputation is so damaged because of the policies of recent
years that it will take a long time before foreign
journalists begin to catch up with current reality,
especially because Turkmenistan's rigid visa regime makes it
so difficult for foreign correspondents to enter the country
freely and spend enough unhindered time to gain a deeper
understanding. He reminded Bashimov the United States cannot
and does not "control" U.S. journalists. He added that a
hallmark of democracy is a free press that can criticize
government and uncover corruption and other problems that
harm the lives of citizens and hinder the economic and
political development of the nation.
4. (C) Bashimov looked pained. He said, "You know I
understand that, but many, many here don't. Articles like
these have the potential to harm the positive trends in our
new bilateral relationship."
5. (C) COMMENT: Assuming more foreign journalists gain
access to Turkmenistan, there will be more "negative
reporting" that will set the Turkmenistan government's teeth
on edge. We will use each opportunity to continue to nudge
this government toward a better understanding of freedom of
the press. Considering the appalling quality of their
government-controlled media, that day of enlightenment is
probably far off. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, R, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN PROTESTS "NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLES"
Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) Embassy received a diplomatic note dated August 7
protesting the series of articles C.J. Chivers published in
"The New York Times" after he accompanied Commander CENTCOM
Admiral Fallon to Turkmenistan June 19-20. The dip note
pointedly reminded Embassy Ashgabat it had supported Chivers'
inclusion in the Fallon delegation, and concluded, as a
result of Chivers' articles, Turkmenistan's "honor in the
international arena has been diminished." The diplomatic
note requested "the U.S. side to prevent such actions from
happening in the future."
2. (C) During his weekly business meeting with Foreign
Ministry Americas Department Director Serdar Bashimov on
August 10, Charge said he was disinclined to reply to the dip
note, but solicited Bashimov's advice. Bashimov agreed the
better part of valor was not to reply.
3. (C) Charge told Bashimov Turkmenistan's international
reputation is so damaged because of the policies of recent
years that it will take a long time before foreign
journalists begin to catch up with current reality,
especially because Turkmenistan's rigid visa regime makes it
so difficult for foreign correspondents to enter the country
freely and spend enough unhindered time to gain a deeper
understanding. He reminded Bashimov the United States cannot
and does not "control" U.S. journalists. He added that a
hallmark of democracy is a free press that can criticize
government and uncover corruption and other problems that
harm the lives of citizens and hinder the economic and
political development of the nation.
4. (C) Bashimov looked pained. He said, "You know I
understand that, but many, many here don't. Articles like
these have the potential to harm the positive trends in our
new bilateral relationship."
5. (C) COMMENT: Assuming more foreign journalists gain
access to Turkmenistan, there will be more "negative
reporting" that will set the Turkmenistan government's teeth
on edge. We will use each opportunity to continue to nudge
this government toward a better understanding of freedom of
the press. Considering the appalling quality of their
government-controlled media, that day of enlightenment is
probably far off. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND