TURKMENISTAN: NGO HOLDS SEMINAR ON MASS MEDIA AND

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001399

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM SCUL SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: NGO HOLDS SEMINAR ON MASS MEDIA AND
DEMOCRATIZATION


1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified. Not for Internet distribution


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: A local NGO recently held a public seminar on the
role of mass media in the democratization of society. Topics
covered included an overview on the legal sphere of mass media
activity, a comparative analysis of mass media legislation in
Central Asian countries, the role of mass media in society and mass
media coverage of the geopolitical situation involving the Caspian
Sea. Government representatives were invited, but did not attend
the event, thus the official view on these topics was not presented.
Nevertheless, the lively discussion by the participants indicated
strong public interest in the issues of media freedom. END
SUMMARY.


3. (SBU) At the October 23 seminar, the director of NGO Bosfor,
Zalina Rossoshanskaya, opened the event saying that the seminar
"Role of Mass Media in Democratization of Society" was held within
the framework of the project Legal Clinic, with support of the U.S.
and UK Embassies. The project would include six seminars, with this
being the third. Previous seminars discussed the penitentiary
system and new labor legislation. Bosfor applied for the U.S.
Embassy grant of USD 2,900 in 2007 for its project "Mobile Legal
Clinic" to provide training and legal consultations to vulnerable
parts of the population, and started implementing the project in

2009.

NO "PRIVATE" MASS MEDIA ALLOWED BY LAW


4. (SBU) In the course of the seminar, Rossoshanskaya gave an
overview of the legal sphere of mass media activity. She said that
in Turkmenistan, mass media activity is governed by the Law on Print
Media of 1991 and article five of the Constitution. The Print Media
Law declares freedom of media, bans censorship, and defines the
structure and organization of media, its interaction with
government, and media's sphere of responsibility. According to the
Law, institutions of state power, political parties, public
organizations, mass unions, and creative organizations, but neither
individuals nor foreign entities, may establish media outlets in the
country. Rossoshanskaya explained that there is no notion of
"private mass media".


5. (SBU) Rossoshanskaya also made a comparative analysis of mass
media legislation in Central Asian countries. Her presentation was
followed by a lively question and answer session during which
participants raised issues such as censorship, mass media language,
and inability of local journalists working for foreign mass media to
get accreditation in Turkmenistan. Yusup Kuliyev, an expert on
economic and political issues and correspondent for the BBC Russian
Service in Central Asia, delivered a presentation on the role of
mass media in society. He also talked about mass media's coverage
of the geopolitical situation and legal status of Caspian Sea.

NO PARTICIPATION FROM STATE AGENCIES


6. (SBU) The event gathered around 20 participants from local NGOs,
journalists, youth, teachers and students of local grade schools.
Despite receiving the invitation, no government representatives
attended the event. Participants at the event underscored the need
for new mass media legislation that would allow more media freedom
in practice.


7. (SBU) COMMENT: The absence of state mass media representatives
at the event was noteworthy given that the subject matter dealt
directly with their profession. They likely have instructions to
avoid public discussion of the topic. Still, their views would have
contributed to the overall discussion, and they might have benefited
from hearing public views on the subject. In their absence,
discussion at the event lacked a worthy counterpoint. END COMMENT.

CURRAN