TURKMENISTAN: UNEVEN MEDIA COVERAGE OF EMBASSY EVENTS IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001476

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: UNEVEN MEDIA COVERAGE OF EMBASSY EVENTS IN
SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER

REF: Ashgabat 1470


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Coverage of Embassy events by state-controlled
media was uneven during this two-month period. A state media
journalist's questions at a press conference for a visiting commerce
delegation in September were an unexpected and positive development.
Media accurately highlighted the Embassy's two-week film festival
on occasion of Columbus Day. State media gave wide coverage to the
opening of the USAID and IREX (International Research and Exchanges
Board) supported Interactive Multimedia Internet Learning center at
the Supreme Council for Science and Technology of Turkmenistan.
State TV widely covered the embassy-organized exhibit at the
International Book Fair, held on October 8-10. State print outlets
accurately highlighted the award ceremony of the winners of grants
under the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation. Post also
saw that perfectly acceptable material about some of our events was
never aired. END SUMMARY.

STATE MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS DAS PAUL B. DYCK VISIT


3. (U) The September 28 "Watan" TV news program (Turkmen) gave a
short introduction about Commerce Department Deputy Assistant
Secretary Paul B. Dyck's visit, giving accurate details on upcoming
meetings with government officials. Similar reports on the
following day appeared in the state-run dailies "Neytralniy
Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 44,991) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen,
circ. 33,391). The same day, government website "Turkmenistan Golden
Age" (Turkmen, Russian, English) reprinted articles from state
dailies. The September 30 "Watan" TV news program continued to
highlight DAS Dyck's visit with a short report on the meetings held.
Video excerpts showed the envoy having meetings with government
officials. On October 9, "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian,
Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabian, Persian, French) carried a
separate five minute story on the visit. This story mainly
highlighted the September 30 press conference with DAS Dyck. The
story included generally accurate press conference remarks and some
video scenes from other official meetings. Shockingly, one state TV
journalist asked several relevant questions during the course of the
press conference. Although this journalist had attended previous,
similar press conferences, this was the first time that any state
journalist took advantage of the opportunity to question a visiting
official.

TURKISH NEWSPAPER OMITS IFTAR DINNER


4. (U) Post conducted an Iftar Dinner on September 24. Media
contacts were among the invitees, but were not expected to cover the
event. "Zaman-Turkmenistan" (Turkmen),the Turkmen language edition
of Turkish "Zaman" newspaper, expressed interest in carrying an
article on the event, but did not place it in their weekly edition.


RFE/RL HIGHLIGHT 9/11 COMMEMORATIVE SACRIFICE MEAL


5. (U) On September 11, RFE/RL Turkmen language programming
accurately carried an interview with PAO, noting that the Embassy
hosted a sacrifice meal in honor of the victims of 9/11.

STATE MEDIA COVERAGE OF COLUMBUS DAY MOVIE FESTIVAL


6. (U) On October 3, state-run dailies "Neytralniy Turkmenistan"
and "Turkmenistan" carried short, accurate articles on the
Embassy-organized movie festival "Discover America" which ended on
Columbus Day. The articles accurately quoted the Charge d'Affaires
on the purpose of the event and gave details about the movies
presented. The following day, government website "Turkmenistan
Golden Age" (Turkmen, Russian, English) reprinted the articles from
the state dailies. "Turkmenistan" TV channel highlighted the
opening of the movie festival on October 5, carrying an accurate
interview with post's Cultural Affairs Officer (CAO) and the Charge
d'Affaires. Video scenes highlighted a related poster show and the
opening movie. On October 10, RFE/RL Turkmen language program

ASHGABAT 00001476 002 OF 002


carried an accurate story on the event, including an interview with
the CAO on the festival.

STATE MEDIA HIGHLIGHT MULTIMEDIA INTERNET CENTER OPENING


7. (U) On October 15, "Watan" TV news program (Turkmen) carried an
accurate story on the opening of a new Internet Access and Training
Program (IATP) center. The program praised the importance of the
center in developing Turkmen education and carried accurate
interview remarks by the USAID Country Representative. On the
following day, similar articles appeared on state-run dailies
"Neytralniy Turkmenistan" and "Turkmenistan". The government
website "Turkmenistan Golden Age" posted an article similar to the
state-run dailies' stories. "Miras" TV channel's (Turkmen) October
16 morning and evening programs gave separate, but accurate stories
on the event, carrying interview remarks by the USAID Country
Director and the Deputy Regional Director of IATP. On October 17,
"Turkmenistan" TV channel ran a generally accurate story that
included interview remarks by PAO, USAID Country Director, and the
IATP Representative. The same day, the Russia-based pro-government
website "Turkmenistan.ru" (Russian, English) posted a short article
about the event based on the Turkmen State News Service report.
(NOTE: State daily articles and TV stories heavily drew from the
post-issued press release. END NOTE.) (COMMENT: This particular
coverage is significant given that the previous regime had forced
the closure of some IATP centers in Turkmenistan. END COMMENT)

STATE TV COVERS U.S. EMBASSY INFORMATION BOOTH AT INTERNATIONAL BOOK
FAIR


5. (U) On October 9 and 11, "Miras" TV channel (Turkmen) gave
accurate coverage of the post-organized information booth at
Turkmenistan's International Book and Publications exhibition,
carrying generally accurate interview remarks by the PAO and a
representative of the "Scholastic" book company. On October 10 and
12, "Turkmenistan" TV channel accurately presented the booth,
highlighting the story with interview remarks by PAO. The following
day, the "Watan" TV news program (Turkmen) accurately showcased the
booth with interview remarks by PAO, who emphasized the value of the
Embassy's Information Resource Center for public.

STATE DAILIES HIGHLIGHT AFCP AWARD CEREMONY


6. (U) On October 16, the state-run dailies "Neytralniy
Turkmenistan" and "Turkmenistan" ran an article about the
Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) award ceremony
conducted by the U.S. Embassy. The article accurately described the
winning projects and stressed the importance of AFCP in preserving
the cultural heritage of Turkmenistan. (NOTE: The article drew
heavily from the post-issued press release and handouts. END NOTE.)
State "Miras" TV channel (Turkmen) conducted a video recording but,
despite continuous promises to carry the story, never aired it.


8. (SBU) COMMENT: Post has seen a generally good continuation of
contact with state news media, including some signs of individual
initiative. For the first time, a "Turkmenistan TV" reporter asked
several relevant questions during the press conference with DAS
Dyck. However, we also saw that perfectly acceptable material about
some of our events was never aired, such as the AFCP program and,
most recently, the Embassy election event (reftel). Despite the
unusual instances in which journalists were not able to publish
their stories, the Public Affairs Section still has frequent and
productive contact with state media. END COMMENT.

CURRAN