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