Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BISHKEK1273
2008-12-23 02:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
CHARGE ENGAGES KYRGYZ WHITE HOUSE OVER RFE/RL
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001273
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO KG
SUBJECT: CHARGE ENGAGES KYRGYZ WHITE HOUSE OVER RFE/RL
BROADCASTS
REF: A. BISHKEK 1254
B. BISHKEK 1222
BISHKEK 00001273 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Charge Lee Litzenberger, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001273
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO KG
SUBJECT: CHARGE ENGAGES KYRGYZ WHITE HOUSE OVER RFE/RL
BROADCASTS
REF: A. BISHKEK 1254
B. BISHKEK 1222
BISHKEK 00001273 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Charge Lee Litzenberger, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: During a December 18 meeting with the
Presidential Foreign Policy Advisor Ryskulov, Charge raised
concerns over the suspension of RFE/RL's Kyrgyz-language
programming by Kyrgyz state television and radio (KTR).
Ryskulov was somewhat optimistic that RFE/RL and KTR could
reach agreement on a contract extension, as long as RFE/RL
would assume "legal responsibility" for the content of its
programming. KTR Director Eshimkanov told the press on
December 18 that RFE/RL had refused a provision in the
contract accepting responsibility for "insults, humiliation,
and inaccurate information" in its programming. Prague-based
Broadcasting Board of Governers (BBG)/International
Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) representative Enver Safir told us
that under the current contract with KTR, RFE/RL accepts full
responsibility for the content of its programming. Safir
confirmed that BBG in Washington sent a letter, dated
December 19, to Eshimkanov, confirming responsibility for
RFE/RL programming content and requesting Eshimkanov to
resume broadcasts. Post will follow up with the Presidential
Administration to convey that RFE/RL considers that it
already accepts full responsibility for the content of its
broadcasts. End summary.
ADMINISTRATION REP OPTIMISTIC ON AGREEMENT
--------------
2. (C) During a December 18 with Presidential Foreign Policy
Advisor Islan Ryskulov, the Charge raised concerns over the
suspension of RFE/RL's Kyrgyz-language programming by the
Kyrgyz State Television and Radio company (KTR) (Refs A and
B). Ryskulov, who appeared well briefed on the matter, was
guardedly optimistic that RFE/RL and KTR could reach
agreement on a contract extension. He said that under
Kyrgyzstan's June 2008 media law, KTR as a broadcaster is
legally responsible for ensuring that its programming content
does not violate Kyrgyz law. According to Ryskulov, KTR
wants RFE/RL to take "legal responsibility" for the comments
and statements made by its reporters, but not for the
statements made by its guests. Charge noted that in December
15 meetings with KTR Director Eshimkanov (Ref A),IBB and
RFE/RL representatives had understood Eshimkanov's demands
differently, as meaning KTR wanted to censor RFE/RL
broadcasts. Ryskulov suggested that any inconsistency might
have been a matter of translation.
ESHIMKANOV GOES PUBLIC WITH DEMANDS
--------------
3. (SBU) In a December 17 press interview, Eshimkanov
provided a different account of the December 15 meetings he
had with IBB and RFE/RL representatives (ref A). Eshimkanov
claimed he had offered Azattyk (RFE/RL's Kyrgyz-language
service) to include a provision in the contract saying that
RFE/RL would bear responsibility for the "insults,
humiliation, and inaccurate information in their programs,"
but that RFE/RL had refused to accept such terms. Eshimkanov
said that under Kyrgyzstan's new media law, the broadcaster
would be held liable for what is broadcast, including any
defamatory material in an RFE/RL program.
IBB LETTER TO ESHIMKANOV COULD SPUR NEGOTIATIONS
-------------- --------------
4. (C) Subsequently, Prague-based BBG/IBB representative
Enver Safir told us that under the current contract with KTR,
RFE/RL already accepts full responsibility for the content of
its programming. Safir confirmed that BBG in Washington sent
a letter, dated December 19, to Eshimkanov, confirming
BISHKEK 00001273 002.2 OF 002
responsibility for RFE/RL programming content and requesting
Eshimkanov to resume broadcasts. The letter also points out
that the financial issues have been resolved. In addition to
requesting a resumption of broadcasts under the current
contract, which expires December 31, the letter asks
Eshimkanov to sign an extension of their broadcast agreement
for 2009.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) The Charge will convey by letter to Presidential
Foreign Policy advisor Ryskulov the information that BBG
already takes full responsibility for the content of its
programming and would continue to do so, and urge Ryskulov to
support renewal of the contract. We will have to see whether
KTR and the Administration will move to resume broadcasts or
whether they will create new hurdles to overcome for RFE/RL
programming on Kyrgyz state television and radio channels.
LITZENBERGER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO KG
SUBJECT: CHARGE ENGAGES KYRGYZ WHITE HOUSE OVER RFE/RL
BROADCASTS
REF: A. BISHKEK 1254
B. BISHKEK 1222
BISHKEK 00001273 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Charge Lee Litzenberger, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: During a December 18 meeting with the
Presidential Foreign Policy Advisor Ryskulov, Charge raised
concerns over the suspension of RFE/RL's Kyrgyz-language
programming by Kyrgyz state television and radio (KTR).
Ryskulov was somewhat optimistic that RFE/RL and KTR could
reach agreement on a contract extension, as long as RFE/RL
would assume "legal responsibility" for the content of its
programming. KTR Director Eshimkanov told the press on
December 18 that RFE/RL had refused a provision in the
contract accepting responsibility for "insults, humiliation,
and inaccurate information" in its programming. Prague-based
Broadcasting Board of Governers (BBG)/International
Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) representative Enver Safir told us
that under the current contract with KTR, RFE/RL accepts full
responsibility for the content of its programming. Safir
confirmed that BBG in Washington sent a letter, dated
December 19, to Eshimkanov, confirming responsibility for
RFE/RL programming content and requesting Eshimkanov to
resume broadcasts. Post will follow up with the Presidential
Administration to convey that RFE/RL considers that it
already accepts full responsibility for the content of its
broadcasts. End summary.
ADMINISTRATION REP OPTIMISTIC ON AGREEMENT
--------------
2. (C) During a December 18 with Presidential Foreign Policy
Advisor Islan Ryskulov, the Charge raised concerns over the
suspension of RFE/RL's Kyrgyz-language programming by the
Kyrgyz State Television and Radio company (KTR) (Refs A and
B). Ryskulov, who appeared well briefed on the matter, was
guardedly optimistic that RFE/RL and KTR could reach
agreement on a contract extension. He said that under
Kyrgyzstan's June 2008 media law, KTR as a broadcaster is
legally responsible for ensuring that its programming content
does not violate Kyrgyz law. According to Ryskulov, KTR
wants RFE/RL to take "legal responsibility" for the comments
and statements made by its reporters, but not for the
statements made by its guests. Charge noted that in December
15 meetings with KTR Director Eshimkanov (Ref A),IBB and
RFE/RL representatives had understood Eshimkanov's demands
differently, as meaning KTR wanted to censor RFE/RL
broadcasts. Ryskulov suggested that any inconsistency might
have been a matter of translation.
ESHIMKANOV GOES PUBLIC WITH DEMANDS
--------------
3. (SBU) In a December 17 press interview, Eshimkanov
provided a different account of the December 15 meetings he
had with IBB and RFE/RL representatives (ref A). Eshimkanov
claimed he had offered Azattyk (RFE/RL's Kyrgyz-language
service) to include a provision in the contract saying that
RFE/RL would bear responsibility for the "insults,
humiliation, and inaccurate information in their programs,"
but that RFE/RL had refused to accept such terms. Eshimkanov
said that under Kyrgyzstan's new media law, the broadcaster
would be held liable for what is broadcast, including any
defamatory material in an RFE/RL program.
IBB LETTER TO ESHIMKANOV COULD SPUR NEGOTIATIONS
-------------- --------------
4. (C) Subsequently, Prague-based BBG/IBB representative
Enver Safir told us that under the current contract with KTR,
RFE/RL already accepts full responsibility for the content of
its programming. Safir confirmed that BBG in Washington sent
a letter, dated December 19, to Eshimkanov, confirming
BISHKEK 00001273 002.2 OF 002
responsibility for RFE/RL programming content and requesting
Eshimkanov to resume broadcasts. The letter also points out
that the financial issues have been resolved. In addition to
requesting a resumption of broadcasts under the current
contract, which expires December 31, the letter asks
Eshimkanov to sign an extension of their broadcast agreement
for 2009.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) The Charge will convey by letter to Presidential
Foreign Policy advisor Ryskulov the information that BBG
already takes full responsibility for the content of its
programming and would continue to do so, and urge Ryskulov to
support renewal of the contract. We will have to see whether
KTR and the Administration will move to resume broadcasts or
whether they will create new hurdles to overcome for RFE/RL
programming on Kyrgyz state television and radio channels.
LITZENBERGER