Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT438
2008-04-08 12:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: STATE MEDIA HIGHLIGHT BUSH-BERDIMUHAMEDOV
how-toVZCZCXRO6293 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0438 0991252 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 081252Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0569 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1343 RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 3603 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1421 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1288 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1857 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000438
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STATE MEDIA HIGHLIGHT BUSH-BERDIMUHAMEDOV
AT NATO SUMMIT
REF: A) ASHGABAT 0435
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000438
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STATE MEDIA HIGHLIGHT BUSH-BERDIMUHAMEDOV
AT NATO SUMMIT
REF: A) ASHGABAT 0435
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (U) SUMMARY: State media prominently highlighted the April 3
meeting between President Bush and Turkmenistan's President
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the NATO Summit in Bucharest to
demonstrate Turkmenistan's growing international exposure and to
emphasize its positive bilateral relationship with the United
States. Some international media reported on the meeting based on
state media coverage. END SUMMARY.
STATE AND INTERMATIONAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHT THE MEETING
3. (U) The April 3 broadcast of the "Watan" TV news program
(Turkmen) highlighted President Bush's meeting with President
Berdimuhamedov on April 3 at the NATO Summit in Bucharest,
emphasizing that both leaders confirmed their readiness to deepen
their constructive partnership, especially in the field of fuel and
energy, as well as educational exchanges. The program noted that
President Bush expressed full support for President Berdimuhamedov's
commitment to diversify Turkmenistan's hydrocarbon export routes.
The same day, pro-government website "TURKMENISTAN.RU" (Russian,
English) carried similar coverage. This was followed by reports
which appeared April 4 on the front pages of the state-run dailies,
"Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 44,791) and "Turkmenistan"
(Turkmen, circ. 29,091). The newspapers and websites erroneously
claimed that it was President Bush's only bilateral meeting during
the NATO summit (Ref. A).
PHOTO WITH BUSH HIGHLIGHTED AGAIN
4. (U) On Monday, April 07, "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" and
"Turkmenistan" ran front-page articles giving complete NATO Summit
coverage under the title, "Symbol of a New Epoch," using the slogan
of Berdimuhamedov's reform program. Although the article covered
Berdimuhamedov's activity at the NATO summit in general, it was
accompanied by a large photo of the two presidents walking
side-by-side.
5. (U) The "Reuters" (English, Russian) April 4 and Russian news
agency "Interfax" April 3 articles gave accurate coverage of the
meeting based on state media reports. Both reports mainly focused
on fuel and energy export issues. International reporting was
neutral, other than a "NEWEURASIA.NET" blog which criticized the
United States for ignoring human rights concerns in order to seek
Turkmenistan's energy resources.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: State media showcased the meeting to demonstrate
Berdimuhamedov's international stature and show the United States'
support for his policy of developing Turkmenistan's energy sector.
Since the media is an official organ, this coverage shows
Turkmenistan wants to highlight its new relationship with the United
States. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STATE MEDIA HIGHLIGHT BUSH-BERDIMUHAMEDOV
AT NATO SUMMIT
REF: A) ASHGABAT 0435
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (U) SUMMARY: State media prominently highlighted the April 3
meeting between President Bush and Turkmenistan's President
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the NATO Summit in Bucharest to
demonstrate Turkmenistan's growing international exposure and to
emphasize its positive bilateral relationship with the United
States. Some international media reported on the meeting based on
state media coverage. END SUMMARY.
STATE AND INTERMATIONAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHT THE MEETING
3. (U) The April 3 broadcast of the "Watan" TV news program
(Turkmen) highlighted President Bush's meeting with President
Berdimuhamedov on April 3 at the NATO Summit in Bucharest,
emphasizing that both leaders confirmed their readiness to deepen
their constructive partnership, especially in the field of fuel and
energy, as well as educational exchanges. The program noted that
President Bush expressed full support for President Berdimuhamedov's
commitment to diversify Turkmenistan's hydrocarbon export routes.
The same day, pro-government website "TURKMENISTAN.RU" (Russian,
English) carried similar coverage. This was followed by reports
which appeared April 4 on the front pages of the state-run dailies,
"Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 44,791) and "Turkmenistan"
(Turkmen, circ. 29,091). The newspapers and websites erroneously
claimed that it was President Bush's only bilateral meeting during
the NATO summit (Ref. A).
PHOTO WITH BUSH HIGHLIGHTED AGAIN
4. (U) On Monday, April 07, "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" and
"Turkmenistan" ran front-page articles giving complete NATO Summit
coverage under the title, "Symbol of a New Epoch," using the slogan
of Berdimuhamedov's reform program. Although the article covered
Berdimuhamedov's activity at the NATO summit in general, it was
accompanied by a large photo of the two presidents walking
side-by-side.
5. (U) The "Reuters" (English, Russian) April 4 and Russian news
agency "Interfax" April 3 articles gave accurate coverage of the
meeting based on state media reports. Both reports mainly focused
on fuel and energy export issues. International reporting was
neutral, other than a "NEWEURASIA.NET" blog which criticized the
United States for ignoring human rights concerns in order to seek
Turkmenistan's energy resources.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: State media showcased the meeting to demonstrate
Berdimuhamedov's international stature and show the United States'
support for his policy of developing Turkmenistan's energy sector.
Since the media is an official organ, this coverage shows
Turkmenistan wants to highlight its new relationship with the United
States. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND