TURKMENISTAN: STATE MEDIA HAILS PRESIDENT'S MEETING WITH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001207 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP, ECA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STATE MEDIA HAILS PRESIDENT'S MEETING WITH SECRETARY CLINTON ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Turkmen State Media painted a positive picture of the short September 21 meeting between Secretary of State Clinton and President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. State TV led their programs with the meeting and a grip and grin photo ran below the fold of the State-run newspapers. While not a completely accurate depiction of events, it is noteworthy that the media covered the major topics discussed and depicted a very positive relationship. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (U) Turkmenistan's main TV news program "Watan" (Turkmen) started its September 22 broadcast with a story on Secretary Clinton's meeting with President Berdimuhamedov. The story presented short video scenes from the meeting and select "quotes" from the meeting. All coverage was positive with Berdimuhamedov emphasizing the importance of the partnership and the media attributing a few on-the-record comments to Secretary Clinton. STATE PROPAGANDA - U.S. BUSINESSES ARE GREAT! ¶4. (U) The report began with Berdimuhamedov emphasizing that the United States was one of Turkmenistan's important and highly respected partners and expressing his willingness to use the visit as an opportunity to expand further business ties with the United States. Secretary Clinton was said to have emphasized her desire to increase U.S. support and assistance in energy diversification, including a desire to apply the experience and modern technologies of U.S. companies. She also reportedly noted that the United States considered Turkmenistan to hold a leading position in energy supply issues and security in the region. In his turn, Berdimuhamedov spoke in favor of energy supply diversification to world markets and expressed Turkmenistan's readiness for active cooperation with U.S. companies in the Caspian Basin. LET'S CONTINUE OUR EXCELLENT EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES ¶5. (U) Watan TV reported that Secretary Clinton praised U.S.-Turkmen cooperation in education and spoke in favor of continuing such partnerships, including through study opportunities for Turkmen students in the United States. Berdimuhamedov paid specific attention to the positive collaboration in science, culture and education and praised the work of the U.S. Peace Corps volunteers in Turkmenistan. BILATERAL COMMISSION GETS A NOD ¶6. (U) The Watan story continued with Secretary Clinton's proposal to hold regular, high-level consultative meetings with the Government of Turkmenistan as a demonstration of the U.S. commitment to continued cooperation. Such meetings would allow the parties to discuss policies and cooperation in energy, education and other areas. TURKMENISTAN HELPS THE U.S. IN AFGHANISTAN TOO ¶7. (U) The story also reported that Secretary Clinton expressed her gratitude for Turkmenistan's active participation in international efforts in Afghanistan, in particular for humanitarian aid and free electricity. PRINT MEDIA MIRRORED THE TV STORIES ¶8. (U) State-run dailies "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 49,091) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 38,091) highlighted the meeting on their front pages on September 23 with reports similar to the "Watan" TV story. The story and a grip and grin photo with Secretary Clinton appeared below the fold, after similar photos with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and Chinese Chairman Hu Chen Tao appeared above the fold. ¶9. (SBU) COMMENT: State media hailed the meeting as a positive step for boosting bilateral ties. While not a completely accurate ASHGABAT 00001207 002 OF 002 depiction of events, it is noteworthy that the media covered the major topics discussed and depicted a very positive relationship. The propaganda machine is still aimed at the image of a strong U.S.-Turkmen relationship. CURRAN