TURKMENISTAN: MEDIA HIGHLIGHT OCTOBER POST EVENTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001418

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 OCTOBER POST EVENTS

ASHGABAT 00001418 001.2 OF 002



1. (U) SUMMARY: In October, Turkmen media provided generally
accurate coverage of post conducted activities. At the beginning of
month international media widely expressed U.S. concern over Turkmen
government's efforts to prevent students from traveling to
U.S.-linked schools. Also, international websites carried stories
on Turkmenistan denying entry to U.S. Peace Corps volunteers. Media
highlighted the opening of U.S. sponsored checkpoint at
Turkmen-Uzbek border. At the end of the month, media carried
President Obama's message and U.S. Charg d'affaires' message
congratulating Turkmenistan on its Independence Day. USAID project
activities also received accurate media coverage. END SUMMARY.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA FOLLOWS U.S. CONCERN OVER STUDENT TRAVEL BAN


2. (U) On October 5th, the international media provided heavy and
accurate coverage of the GOTX's denial of exit to USG-funded
scholarship students attempting to travel to the American University
in Bulgaria (AUBG). The AP, AFP, and Reuters all carried
on-the-record statements by the Embassy spokesman about the story.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (English) also carried several
articles and on-the-air interviews with the Embassy spokesman on
this topic throughout the month. The original AP story served as a
source for multiple similar articles which appeared on "The Canadian
Press" (English),"EurasiaNet" (English),"Chronicle of Higher
Education" (English) and Azeri news agency "Trend" (English).

TURKMENISTAN SHUTS DOORS TO U.S. PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS


3. (U) On October 9th, the AP and AFP posted accurate articles on
Turkmenistan's last minute decision to not allow 47 new US Peace
Corps volunteers to come to Turkmenistan. The stories described the
situation and accurately quoted acting Peace Corps Country Director
Chris Leal. The AP linked its story to its previous article on U.S.
criticism of the GOTX for the student travel ban, which, in their
opinion, came out after President Berdimuhamedov's September meeting
with Secretary of State Clinton. On October 10, "Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty" (English) also posted an accurate article
referring to an RFE/RL interview with Mr. Leal.

U.S. SPONSORSHIP OF THE CHECKPOINT ON TURKMEN-UZBEK BORDER GETS NO
MENTION IN STATE MEDIA HIGHLIGHT


4. (U) Despite considerable efforts by post media personnel,
state-run media ignored the U.S. involvement in the recently opened
Farap border crossing installation. On October 15th, Charge and
others provided interviews to the state-run meda outlining how the
U.S. had funded the new installation, but yet the media coverage of
the event provided that evening on "Watan" TV (Turkmen) made no
mention of U.S. involvement. In fact, when showing members of the
U.S. delegation on the video from the event, the TV anchor mentioned
foreign visitors. The same day, the government-run website
"Turkmenistan Golden Age" (www.turkmenistan.gov.tm) (Turkmen,
Russian and English) posted an article by TDH (Turkmen State News
Service) highlighting the opening and praising the high-tech
capabilities of the checkpoint but also made no mention of U.S.
involvement. The TDH story appeared in the state-run dailies
"Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 49,091) and "Turkmenistan"
(Turkmen, circ. 38,091) on October 16. The same day, "Turkmenistan"
TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabic, Persian,
French) hourly news program carried the coverage referring to the
"Watan" coverage.


5. (U) Unlike the state-controlled media, the foreign media clearly
highlighted U.S. involvement in the event. On October 15, the
pro-government website "Turkmenistan.ru" (Russian, English) ran an
accurate article on the opening heavily using the Embassy issued
press release. The same day, Azeri news agency "Trend" (Russian,
English) and "Targeted News Service" (English) posted the Embassy
press release. On October 18, "ISRIA" (English) also posted the
press release. The following day, the "Times of Central Asia,"
referring to Azeri "Trend" article, posted an accurate article on
the event.


ASHGABAT 00001418 002.2 OF 002


U.S. CONGRATULATES TURKMENISTAN ON ITS INDEPENDENCE DAY


6. (U) On October 23, the "Watan" TV evening news program
accurately reported President Obama's congratulatory message to
President Berdimuhammedov on the occasion of Turkmenistan's
Independence holiday. The message expressed the value of
Turkmen-American relations and the U.S.' hope for further expanded
cooperation. The following day, the message appeared on the front
pages of the state-run dailies "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian,
circ. 49,091) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 38,091),was posted
on pro-government website "Turkmenistan.ru" (Russian, English),and
was reported in the hourly news program of "Turkmenistan" TV channel
(Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabic, Persian, French). On
October 28, Azeri "Trend" (English) posted President Obama's message
referring to the state-run media.


7. (U) On October 26th "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen,
English, Chinese, Arabic, Persian, French) carried an Independence
Day congratulatory message by the U.S. Charge d'Affaires. On
October 29th, the state "Altyn Asyr" TV channel borrowed the
Charge's congratulatory speech from the "Turkmenistan" TV channel
and replayed the same piece but attributed several inaccurate
phrases to the Charge, all extolling the virtues of President
Berdimuhammedov.

STATE MEDIA HIGHLIGHT THE MEETING OF TURKMEN-U.S. BUSINESS COUNCIL


8. (U) On October 28, the government-run website "Turkmenistan
Golden Age" (www.turkmenistan.gov.tm) (Turkmen, Russian and English)
posted an accurate article by TDH on the meeting of the Turkmen-U.S.
business council (TUBC) held on that day. The same day the "Watan"
TV evening news program accurately highlighted the event. The
program introduced the meeting as a new step in strengthening
fruitful interstate cooperation, and carried the opening remarks by
the Executive Director Mr. Eric Stuart. On October 29, the
state-run dailies "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 49,091)
and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 38,091) posted the same TDH story
on their front pages. On October 30, "RIA OREANDA" (Russian) and
the pro-government website "Turkmenistan.ru" (Russian, English) also
posted accurate stories on the meeting, referencing the state media
report.

MEDIA HIGHLIGHT USAID PROJECTS IN TURKMENISTAN


9. (U) On October 9, "Targeted News Service" (English) posted the
Embassy issued press release on USAID reviewing the results of its
10-year Health project "ZdravPlus". On October 16, the same news
agency posted the Embassy issued press release on USAID/EREC
(Economic reforms to enhance competitiveness) project to support
Turkmen public auditors in analyzing investment projects. The
following day the Azeri news agency "Trend" (Russian) posted the
same press release.


10. (SBU) COMMENT: The state-run media is most often willing to
provide accurate coverage of U.S. programs when it shines a positive
light on the GOTX. Sometimes the media has been willing to
highlight U.S. assistance programs, but for some as yet inexplicable
reason, someone decided it was best not to mention the massive U.S.
involvement in the Farap border crossing. Post efforts to clarify
the reason with editors and journalist involved in the story only
led to inconclusive obfuscation. END COMMENT.

CURRAN