Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT1105
2009-09-01 11:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: PROMISING RESHUFFLING IN STATE NEWS
how-toVZCZCXRO6055 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #1105 2441118 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 011118Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3381 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3320 RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5601 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3184 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3844 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3849 RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
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
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
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