Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT526
2008-04-28 06:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: MEDIA COVERAGE OF UNDER SECRETARY REUBEN
how-toVZCZCXRO9343 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0526 1190644 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 280644Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0682 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1508 RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 3690 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1375 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1944 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2459 RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
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.
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
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