TURKMENISTAN: MEDIA COVERAGE OF UNDER SECRETARY REUBEN

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000526 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB, SCA/PPD, IIP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SCUL KPAO TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MEDIA COVERAGE OF UNDER SECRETARY REUBEN JEFFERY'S VISIT TO TURKMENISTAN. ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (U) SUMMARY: International and domestic state media accurately covered Under Secretary of State Reuben Jeffery's April 21-22 visit to Turkmenistan. The accurate state media coverage reflects the Turkmen government's continued commitment to a positive U.S.-Turkmen relationship and to cooperation in the energy sector. END SUMMARY. INTERNATIONAL NEWS AGENCIES' COVERAGE OF REUBEN JEFFERY'S VISIT ¶3. (SBU) On April 21, international news agencies gave accurate coverage of Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs Reuben Jeffery's visit to Turkmenistan. "Reuters" (English, Russian),"Agence France Presse", as well as Russian news agencies "Interfax", "Fergana.ru" and "ITAR-TASS," all referenced the Embassy's press-release. They also accurately quoted Jeffery's remarks about the impact of economic reforms and the importance of increased cooperation with foreign governments and international energy companies. In contrast to some previous media coverage, there was not an over-emphasis on American interest in Turkmenistan's gas and oil. STATE MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS JEFFERY'S VISIT TO TURKMENISTAN ¶4. (U) The evening "Watan" TV news program on April 21 showed Under Secretary Jeffery's meeting with President Berdimuhamedov, as the SIPDIS second story, following the visit of the UN General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim. The segment reported U/S Jeffery's expression of U.S. support for Turkmenistan's reform policy and emphasized the willingness of U.S. businesses to establish partnerships in the oil and gas sector. The report also noted the need to expand the Turkmen-American dialog and to attract U.S. companies' expertise and technology in a wide range of fields including energy. Jeffery's remarks about the meeting, with generally accurate Turkmen language translation, followed. The same day, pro-government website "TURKMENISTAN.RU" (Russian, English) highlighted the meeting. Similar reports appeared April 22 on the front page of state-run dailies "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 44,791) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 29,091). The Government website "Turkmenistan-Golden Age" (www.turkmenistan.gov.tm) (Turkmen, English, Russian) carried an article similar to the one carried in the state dailies. (NOTE: All state media coverage heavily drew from "Watan" TV news broadcast content. END NOTE.) ¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: Post's early press-release, as well as the fact the press at the same time covered the visit of the UN General Assembly president, probably helped keep international, especially Russian, news media from giving a negative spin to U/S Jeffery's visit and U.S. interest in Turkmenistan's resources. The press release served as the main content for most such reports, but added notes on U.S. efforts to bypass Russia's gas pipeline network only. The accurate state media coverage reflects the Turkmen government's continued commitment to a positive U.S.-Turkmen relationship and to cooperation in the energy sector. END COMMENT. CURRAN