TURKMENISTAN: MEDIA HIGHLIGHT SEPTEMBER POST EVENTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001277

UNCLASS
SIPDIS

REF: ASHGABAT 01255

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP, ECA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MEDIA HIGHLIGHT SEPTEMBER POST EVENTS

ASHGABAT 00001277 001.2 OF 002



1. (U) SUMMARY: During September, the Turkmen media provided
generally accurate and positive coverage of Embassy activities. TV,
print and radio outlets covered Embassy participation in the
International Education Fair, the ceremony honoring the National
Library with the award of an AFCP (Ambassador's Fund for Cultural
Preservation) grant, USAID activities and ran several other articles
on US educational programs in Turkmenistan. END SUMMARY.

STATE MEDIA COVERAGE OF U.S. PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL
EDUCATION FAIR


2. (U) Both state "Yashlyk" TV channel (Turkmen) and state "Miras"
TV channel carried accurate interviews with US Fulbright Scholar Dr.
Melda Yildiz from the US booth at the International Education Fair.
Her interview remarks at the exhibition were later repeated on state
"Altyn Asyr" TV channel (Turkmen). The same day, "Turkmenistan" TV
channel (Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabic, Persian,
French) carried a program dedicated to the exhibition, which
prominently showed the U.S. Embassy booth and carried an accurate
interview with USAID Country Director Ashley Moretz.


3. (SBU) On September 11, state weekly "Mugallymlar gazeti"
(Turkmen, circ. 93,591) posted an article carrying an interview with
Public Affairs Officer William Stevens at the International
Education Fair. The story was 90% filled with praising words about
Turkmenistan, the Turkmen President's foreign policy and reforms in
the country, which the PAO never made.

STATE TV NEWS PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT US PARTICIPATION AT THE
INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING FAIR


4. (U) On September 30, the "Watan" TV evening news program
(Turkmen) carried a piece highlighting the U.S. booth at the
publishing exhibition, and including an accurate interview with Dr.
Yildiz. During the interview, Dr. Yildiz fully introduced the
Embassy's print and digital publishing capabilities and used a
digital map to highlight Trenton, New Jersey, recalling President
Berdymuhamedov's recent visit there.

U.S. HELP TO TURKMENISTAN IN RESTORATION OF OLD BOOKS


5. (U) On September 23, pro-government website "Turkmenistan.ru"
(Russian, English) referring to an Embassy-issued press release,
posted an accurate article on the ceremony marking the award of a
new AFCP grant to Turkmenistan's National Library for the
conservation and restoration of rare books. The following day,
state-run dailies "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 49,091)
and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 38,091) posted a similar story
highlighting the event and emphasizing past conducted AFCP projects
in Turkmenistan. The same day, "Targeted News Service" (English),
and on September 26, Azeri news agenc "Trend" (Russian, English)
posted the Embassy press release on the topic. On September 27,
"Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese,
Arabic, Persian, French) aired a separate program highlighting the
event, following with accurate interview remarks by Charge
d'Affaires and PAO, who stressed the role of AFCP in preserving
Turkmenistan's cultural heritage. PAO introduced embassy's Public
Affairs activities in culture, education exchanges and information.
The program largely used press release material on the event.

STATE DAILY CARRIES ARTICLES ABOUT U.S. EMBASSY OFFICER, FULBRIGHT
SCHOLAR AND FLEX PROGRAM


6. (U) On September 23, state-run daily "Neytralniy Turkmenistan"
(Russian, circ. 49,091) ran an accurate article on U.S. Embassy
Economic Officer Kristine Marsh, who had spent her last month as
Acting PAO. The article was based on an interview conducted by
Viktoriya Nowikova, a Neytralniy Turkmenistan correspondent. The
story highlighted Marsh's tenure in Turkmenistan, her main
activities and site visits, used her quotes praising the country and
stressing the importance of education exchanges between U.S. and
Turkmenistan. The same story appeared on the government-run website
"Turkmenistan Golden Age" (www.turkmenistan.gov.tm) (Turkmen,

ASHGABAT 00001277 002.2 OF 002


Russian and English) on September 26.


7. (U) On September 25, "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ.
49,091) printed a short article on visiting US Fulbright scholar
Melda Yildiz. The article described her active participation at the
international scientific conference in Dashoguz and emphasized the
various classes she offers for visitors at the Information Resource
Center (IRC).


8. (U) Directly below the article about Dr. Yildiz the paper
printed a long and favorable story about FLEX (Future Leaders
Exchange) program. The story mainly consisted of the interview
remarks by program alumni, eagerly describing their U.S. high school
and American family experiences. The story showed the alumni's
appreciation for the program and their families and friends in the
U.S. The article was an effective advertisement of the FLEX program
among Turkmen youth. The story also appeared on the government-run
website "Turkmenistan Golden Age" (www.turkmenistan.gov.tm)
(Turkmen, Russian and English) on September 26.

OPPOSITION WEBSITES EXPRESS CONCERN FOR AUCA STUDENTS IN
TURKMENISTAN


9. (U) On September 3, the opposition website "Chronika
Turkmenistan" (English, Russian) posted a story about the difficult
situation faced by Turkmen students not allowed to leave the country
for AUCA (American University in Central Asia in Bishkek). The
story referred to an RFE/RL Turkmen Service correspondent's
interview with U.S. Embassy spokesman William Stevens, and used his
quotes, that the "US Embassy is working closely with the Government
of Turkmenistan to resolve the issue."


10. (U) On September 5, "Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty" posted a
story about the same matter based on an interview with U.S. Embassy
spokesman William Stevens. The story was accurate, and it
emphasized Stevens' confirmation about Turkmen students have been
denied exit from Turkmenistan to travel to AUCA.

MEDIA HIGHLIGHT USAID ACTIVITIES IN TURKMENISTAN


11. (U) On September 15, state-run daily "Neytralniy Turkmenistan"
(Russian, circ. 49,091) carried an accurate article on a
USAID-sponsored conference dedicated to the completion of project
HOPE in Turkmenistan. The article outlined in brief the
accomplishments of the project. On September 18, "Targeted News
Service" (English) posted an Embassy-issued press release on
USAID/Counterpart's completion of the Community Empowerment Program.
On September 29, "Targeted News Service" (English) posted another
press release on USAID-sponsored roundtable with the Turkmen
Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, to discuss legislation for
NGOs. The following day, Azeri news agency "Trend" (Russian,
English) posted an article on the same event referring to
post-issued press-release.


12. (U) COMMENT: September saw generally accurate and favorable
media coverage of post conducted events. As noted in reftel,
Berdimuhamedov's trip to New York brought on a shower of stories
about the U.S. and U.S. programs in Turkmenistan. END COMMENT.

CURRAN