Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT1252
2009-10-01 09:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: FOR BERDIMUHAMEDOV, PRAISE FROM ANY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001252
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL TX UN
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: FOR BERDIMUHAMEDOV, PRAISE FROM ANY
SOURCE IS WELCOME
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Sylvia Reed Curran. Reasons 1.4 (B) a
nd (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001252
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL TX UN
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: FOR BERDIMUHAMEDOV, PRAISE FROM ANY
SOURCE IS WELCOME
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Sylvia Reed Curran. Reasons 1.4 (B) a
nd (D).
1. (U) On September 26, on the front page of state-run
newspaper "Neytralniy Turkmenistan," there was a photo of the
certificate and medal that were presented to President
Berdimuhamedov on September 24 when he was in the United
States for the UN General Assembly. The certificate was for
"faithful promotion of information community" and was given
to him by the International Informatization Academy, a
consultant organization to the Economic and Social Council of
the UN. The article about the award was next to an article
of the same size about Berdimuhamedov's meeting with Javier
Solana, the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and
Security Policy. Another photo of the certificate and medal
appeared in the September 28 issue of Neytralniy Turkmenistan
as part of a photo montage of Berdimuhamedov's meetings on
the margins of the UNGA, alongside photos of him with the
Secretary, the UN Secretary General, the Turkish Prime
Minister, and the Polish President.
2. (U) The article accompanying the photo of the award bore
the title "A High International Award is Bestowed Upon
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov," but most of the text described
Berdimuhamedov's participation at the UN General Assembly.
Only the last two paragraphs were dedicated to the
presentation of the award, with most of the space taken up by
details of where the award presentation took place and who
was present. However, the very end of the article clarified
the Turkmen message, which is that they see the award as a
sign of support for their "progressive" politics and
recognition of Berdimuhamedov's model for peace and
development.
3. (C) COMMENT: The large picture of the award in the
national newspaper was just another example of the Turkmen
government's focus on form over substance, as well as its
penchant to portray itself as a major international actor.
The declaration by Trenton, New Jersey of "Gurbanguly
Berdimuhamedov Day" also received disproportionate attention
in the Turkmen state media (two days worth of press!). The
national newspapers in Turkmenistan write about every meeting
the president has and every award he receives with the same
exalted level of pomp and circumstance and the same main
message: that Turkmenistan is being recognized as an
important country on the world stage.
4. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: As another example, a September
25 "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" story on the FLEX student
exchange program featured interviews from five different
young people regarding their experiences at high schools in
the United States. In addition to detailing their activities
and life with their host families, it discussed the intense
interest the other students, teachers and acquaintances had
in Turkmenistan. Every FLEX student interviewed gave
multiple presentations on Turkmenistan and answered numerous
questions about their country. Their classmates were
impressed by what they learned and dreamed about visiting.
One FLEX student said, "the interest of the kids and teachers
about our country, and in those changes which are occurring
here in the epoch of the new revival was huge." Certainly,
the American classmates were curious about Turkmenistan.
However, given the attention span and typical interests of
the average American teenager, these stories clearly must be
exaggerations. Nevertheless, they serve to underscore and
add to the narrative that Turkmenistan is important.
5. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: The mere announcement of an award
or occurrence of a meeting is just as important to the
Turkmen government as what the award represents or what the
meeting accomplished. Businesses and international
organizations that recognize this and cater to the Turkmen
government's penchant for praise and its focus on visuals are
better received than those that focus exclusively on
substance. In the case of Berdimuhamedov, flattery is not
only welcome, but expected. END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL TX UN
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: FOR BERDIMUHAMEDOV, PRAISE FROM ANY
SOURCE IS WELCOME
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Sylvia Reed Curran. Reasons 1.4 (B) a
nd (D).
1. (U) On September 26, on the front page of state-run
newspaper "Neytralniy Turkmenistan," there was a photo of the
certificate and medal that were presented to President
Berdimuhamedov on September 24 when he was in the United
States for the UN General Assembly. The certificate was for
"faithful promotion of information community" and was given
to him by the International Informatization Academy, a
consultant organization to the Economic and Social Council of
the UN. The article about the award was next to an article
of the same size about Berdimuhamedov's meeting with Javier
Solana, the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and
Security Policy. Another photo of the certificate and medal
appeared in the September 28 issue of Neytralniy Turkmenistan
as part of a photo montage of Berdimuhamedov's meetings on
the margins of the UNGA, alongside photos of him with the
Secretary, the UN Secretary General, the Turkish Prime
Minister, and the Polish President.
2. (U) The article accompanying the photo of the award bore
the title "A High International Award is Bestowed Upon
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov," but most of the text described
Berdimuhamedov's participation at the UN General Assembly.
Only the last two paragraphs were dedicated to the
presentation of the award, with most of the space taken up by
details of where the award presentation took place and who
was present. However, the very end of the article clarified
the Turkmen message, which is that they see the award as a
sign of support for their "progressive" politics and
recognition of Berdimuhamedov's model for peace and
development.
3. (C) COMMENT: The large picture of the award in the
national newspaper was just another example of the Turkmen
government's focus on form over substance, as well as its
penchant to portray itself as a major international actor.
The declaration by Trenton, New Jersey of "Gurbanguly
Berdimuhamedov Day" also received disproportionate attention
in the Turkmen state media (two days worth of press!). The
national newspapers in Turkmenistan write about every meeting
the president has and every award he receives with the same
exalted level of pomp and circumstance and the same main
message: that Turkmenistan is being recognized as an
important country on the world stage.
4. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: As another example, a September
25 "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" story on the FLEX student
exchange program featured interviews from five different
young people regarding their experiences at high schools in
the United States. In addition to detailing their activities
and life with their host families, it discussed the intense
interest the other students, teachers and acquaintances had
in Turkmenistan. Every FLEX student interviewed gave
multiple presentations on Turkmenistan and answered numerous
questions about their country. Their classmates were
impressed by what they learned and dreamed about visiting.
One FLEX student said, "the interest of the kids and teachers
about our country, and in those changes which are occurring
here in the epoch of the new revival was huge." Certainly,
the American classmates were curious about Turkmenistan.
However, given the attention span and typical interests of
the average American teenager, these stories clearly must be
exaggerations. Nevertheless, they serve to underscore and
add to the narrative that Turkmenistan is important.
5. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: The mere announcement of an award
or occurrence of a meeting is just as important to the
Turkmen government as what the award represents or what the
meeting accomplished. Businesses and international
organizations that recognize this and cater to the Turkmen
government's penchant for praise and its focus on visuals are
better received than those that focus exclusively on
substance. In the case of Berdimuhamedov, flattery is not
only welcome, but expected. END COMMENT.
CURRAN