Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT270
2008-02-25 08:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: NEWSPAPER FEATURES ARTICLE ON
how-toVZCZCXRO6104 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0270 0560819 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 250819Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0331 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 3426 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1244 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1111 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1680 RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2258
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000270
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SOCI KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: NEWSPAPER FEATURES ARTICLE ON
INDEPENDENT KOSOVO
REF: A. ASHGABAT 0212
B. STATE 13716
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000270
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SOCI KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: NEWSPAPER FEATURES ARTICLE ON
INDEPENDENT KOSOVO
REF: A. ASHGABAT 0212
B. STATE 13716
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) On February 23, "Zaman," a Turkmen-language
newspaper, featured a half-page, above-the-fold article with
color photos, entitled "Kosovo - New Independent State."
"Zaman" borrows some of its content from its "Zaman" parent
company in Turkey, but is closely controlled by
Turkmenistan's Central Publishing Bureau.
3. (SBU) The article begins: "There is a new state among the
world's independent states. Last Sunday, Kosovo announced
its independence. Despite Serbia's objection, a number of
states have recognized Kosovo's independence." The article
contains a summary section that lists basic information,
including the capital, state language, president's name,
independence day, currency, and population. Subsequent
paragraphs go into greater detail regarding the territory and
population of the country, history (with a special emphasis
on the historic period under the Ottoman Empire),state
language, the relationship with Turkey, independence, and the
first new laws.
4. (SBU) The article lists the many countries that have
recognized Kosovo and notes the United States was first,
followed by Albania. It also lists the countries that do not
recognize Kosovo's independence. It adds that for these
countries Kosovo will remain an autonomous republic within
Serbia.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: The content "Zaman" used from the parent
company in the past has been limited to neutral information
about conferences or geographic tidbits and not hard,
international news. The decision to run this story appears
to be an effort to push the envelope a bit on what can be
covered internationally. This is particularly noteworthy
given the controversial nature of the subject. Turkmenistan,
an officially neutral country, tries to walk a fine line
between Russia and the West. Given the multiple recent
demarches we have delivered on the topic (and probably
correspondingly opposite ones from Russia) and the years of
controversy surrounding Kosovo, this article is an important
step certainly approved by the government. Although this
article does not constitute an official recognition of
Kosovo's independence, it is likely the closest thing we will
get from Turkmenistan for the foreseeable future. END
COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SOCI KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: NEWSPAPER FEATURES ARTICLE ON
INDEPENDENT KOSOVO
REF: A. ASHGABAT 0212
B. STATE 13716
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) On February 23, "Zaman," a Turkmen-language
newspaper, featured a half-page, above-the-fold article with
color photos, entitled "Kosovo - New Independent State."
"Zaman" borrows some of its content from its "Zaman" parent
company in Turkey, but is closely controlled by
Turkmenistan's Central Publishing Bureau.
3. (SBU) The article begins: "There is a new state among the
world's independent states. Last Sunday, Kosovo announced
its independence. Despite Serbia's objection, a number of
states have recognized Kosovo's independence." The article
contains a summary section that lists basic information,
including the capital, state language, president's name,
independence day, currency, and population. Subsequent
paragraphs go into greater detail regarding the territory and
population of the country, history (with a special emphasis
on the historic period under the Ottoman Empire),state
language, the relationship with Turkey, independence, and the
first new laws.
4. (SBU) The article lists the many countries that have
recognized Kosovo and notes the United States was first,
followed by Albania. It also lists the countries that do not
recognize Kosovo's independence. It adds that for these
countries Kosovo will remain an autonomous republic within
Serbia.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: The content "Zaman" used from the parent
company in the past has been limited to neutral information
about conferences or geographic tidbits and not hard,
international news. The decision to run this story appears
to be an effort to push the envelope a bit on what can be
covered internationally. This is particularly noteworthy
given the controversial nature of the subject. Turkmenistan,
an officially neutral country, tries to walk a fine line
between Russia and the West. Given the multiple recent
demarches we have delivered on the topic (and probably
correspondingly opposite ones from Russia) and the years of
controversy surrounding Kosovo, this article is an important
step certainly approved by the government. Although this
article does not constitute an official recognition of
Kosovo's independence, it is likely the closest thing we will
get from Turkmenistan for the foreseeable future. END
COMMENT.
HOAGLAND