TURKMENISTAN: PROMISING RESHUFFLING IN STATE NEWS

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001105 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP, ECA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: PROMISING RESHUFFLING IN STATE NEWS AGENCIES ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On August 31, President Berdimuhamedov appointed two promising professionals to head the key state media print outlet "Neytralniy Turkmensitan (NT)" and main state news agency "Turkmen Dowlet Habarlary (TDH)." These appointments follow shortly after the recent dismissal of TDH's director due to "health reasons." The new head of Turkmenistan's official Russian language daily paper is an alumnus of a 2008 IVLP program. Post has had productive and positive experiences working with the new appointees and anticipates improved media coverage of US activities. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) On August 30, President Berdimuhamedov released TDH Director Jeren Taimova from her duties, and replaced her the following day with Bekdurdy Amansaryev. Amansaryev was released from his previous position as Editor-in-Chief of the daily Neutral Turkmenistan, where he had been since August 2008. Amansaryev had been with the daily for many years and was well known during the Niyazov era for his active praise of the President and his policies. ¶4. (U) Vladimir Gubanov is a Member of Turkmenistan's Mejlis (Parliament) and was elected as the Chairperson of the Mejlis Committee for Science, Education and Culture on January 9, 2009. Of Russian nationality, he was born in 1949 in Ashgabat and has a degree in engineering and economics. He worked at the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan for a number of years. ¶5. (SBU) TDH is the main state news agency in Turkmenistan. It highlights all official events and is the only source allowed to access presidential meetings and is among the few outlets allowed at official events. Its publications appear as top stories in all print outlets, including TV news broadcasts. NT is the only Russian language state daily print outlet. It is considered to be the most popular and well-respected active print outlet in Turkmenistan. ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: Both new appointees are well-known to Embassy personnel. We believe they are both favorably disposed to the United States. Post has worked well with Amansaryev on a number of events, including several recent publications marking our July 4, 2009 celebration. Unlike his predecessor, he is active, productive and open to cooperation with Embassy personnel. Gubanov is an alumnus of State Department's International Visitors program on "Education in the United States" (dates: 09/27/2008-10/12/2008). END COMMENT. MILES