Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT66
2008-01-15 08:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: STATE MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS VISIT OF SENATOR
how-toVZCZCXRO2189 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0066 0150853 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 150853Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0077 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1068 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0939 RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 3253 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1516 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2118 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000066
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, EEB (AMB. MANN)
H PLEASE PASS TO SENATOR LUGAR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINR EPET KPAO OIIP TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STATE MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS VISIT OF SENATOR
RICHARD LUGAR
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000066
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, EEB (AMB. MANN)
H PLEASE PASS TO SENATOR LUGAR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINR EPET KPAO OIIP TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STATE MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS VISIT OF SENATOR
RICHARD LUGAR
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (U) On January 11, the Russian-language, government-operated
website "Turkmenistan Golden Age" reported on Senator Lugar's
arrival in Turkmenistan, giving accurate details on his planned
schedule. Similar reports on the same day appeared on the front
pages of the state-run dailies "Neutral Turkmenistan" (Russian,
circ. 43,091) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 29,091).
3. (U) On January 11, the "Watan" TV news program (Turkmen)
featured Senator Lugar's meeting with President Berdimuhamedov,
emphasizing their talks on intensifying and diversifying
Turkmen-American cooperation. The news report highlighted Senator
Lugar's comments that American companies are interested and ready to
establish mutually beneficial partnerships in the oil and gas
sectors. Watan also reported that both sides agreed on the need to
expand exchange programs for young Turkmen specialists, as well as
college and high school students. The report praised such exchanges
as an excellent way to meet the objectives of education reform in
Turkmenistan and recognized the role they play in strengthening
trust and mutual understanding between Turkmenistan and the U.S.
4. (SBU) The January 12 report in "Neutral Turkmenistan" included a
three-column color photo of the Lugar-Berdimuhamedov meeting taken
during the standard photo op at the beginning. It showed the
president and senator facing each other in armchairs and the Charge
note-taking. Foreign Minister Meredov had also been on the couch
but was photo-shopped out. The state print media do not show the
president's senior advisors with him.
5. (U) COMMENT: Senator Lugar's visit received generally accurate
and wide state media coverage. Beyond reporting on official
meetings, state media also reported on Lugar's planned visit to the
Turkmen-Iranian border crossing at "Hovdan-Bajigiran" (which, in
fact, was cancelled because of bad weather) and his attendance at
Turkmenistan's Memorial Day ceremony on January 12. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, EEB (AMB. MANN)
H PLEASE PASS TO SENATOR LUGAR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINR EPET KPAO OIIP TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STATE MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS VISIT OF SENATOR
RICHARD LUGAR
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (U) On January 11, the Russian-language, government-operated
website "Turkmenistan Golden Age" reported on Senator Lugar's
arrival in Turkmenistan, giving accurate details on his planned
schedule. Similar reports on the same day appeared on the front
pages of the state-run dailies "Neutral Turkmenistan" (Russian,
circ. 43,091) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 29,091).
3. (U) On January 11, the "Watan" TV news program (Turkmen)
featured Senator Lugar's meeting with President Berdimuhamedov,
emphasizing their talks on intensifying and diversifying
Turkmen-American cooperation. The news report highlighted Senator
Lugar's comments that American companies are interested and ready to
establish mutually beneficial partnerships in the oil and gas
sectors. Watan also reported that both sides agreed on the need to
expand exchange programs for young Turkmen specialists, as well as
college and high school students. The report praised such exchanges
as an excellent way to meet the objectives of education reform in
Turkmenistan and recognized the role they play in strengthening
trust and mutual understanding between Turkmenistan and the U.S.
4. (SBU) The January 12 report in "Neutral Turkmenistan" included a
three-column color photo of the Lugar-Berdimuhamedov meeting taken
during the standard photo op at the beginning. It showed the
president and senator facing each other in armchairs and the Charge
note-taking. Foreign Minister Meredov had also been on the couch
but was photo-shopped out. The state print media do not show the
president's senior advisors with him.
5. (U) COMMENT: Senator Lugar's visit received generally accurate
and wide state media coverage. Beyond reporting on official
meetings, state media also reported on Lugar's planned visit to the
Turkmen-Iranian border crossing at "Hovdan-Bajigiran" (which, in
fact, was cancelled because of bad weather) and his attendance at
Turkmenistan's Memorial Day ceremony on January 12. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND