TURKMENISTAN: MEDIA HIGHLIGHT NOVEMBER POST EVENTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001605 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 NOVEMBER POST EVENTS ASHGABAT 00001605 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: In November, media provided generally accurate coverage of post conducted activities. The graduation of Turkmen law enforcement officers from a U.S. Embassy sponsored-English language program was accurately highlighted on foreign websites. U.S. websites posted the Embassy statement on imprisonment of an environmental activist, and press releases on mission activities. EurasiaNet posted a slightly misleading story on U.S. policy towards Turkmenistan, stating that energy projects are of more importance to U.S. officials rather than the education issue. RFE/RL Turkmen service aired accurate interview remarks by an Embassy official on different events. At the end of month, state TV carried accurate interview remarks by Deputy Assistant Secretary Krol from the Turkmenistan International Oil and Gas Exhibition, held November 16-18. END SUMMARY. U.S. EMBASSY INL PROGRAM TO TEACH ENGLISH TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ¶2. (U) On November 9th, Kyrgyzstan-based "CA-NEWS" (Russian) posted the Embassy-issued press release on the recent graduation of Turkmen law enforcement officers from Embassy-sponsored English language courses. The same press release appeared in the Azeri news outlet "Trend" (Russian, English) on November 10th and on "US Fed News" (English) on November 26th. U.S. WEBSITES CARRY EMBASSY'S STATEMENT ON IMPRISONMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST ¶3. (U) On November 4th, "Targeted News Service" (English) posted the Embassy's statement on the imprisonment of environmentalist activist Andrei Zatoka. The same statement was posted by "US Fed News" (English) on November 26th. U.S. WEBSITE HIGHLIGHTS SEVERAL EMBASSY ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS IN TURKMENISTAN ¶4. (U) On November 26th, "US Fed News" (English) posted several Embassy-issued press releases highlighting two USAID projects, the opening of a CENTCOM-sponsored border crossing check point, and a Sister City visit from Albuquerque to Ashgabat. MISLEADING STORY BY "EURASIANET" ON U.S. POLICY TOWARDS TURKMENISTAN ¶5. (U) On November 20th, "EurasiaNet" (English) posted an inaccurate article on the travel ban placed on former Turkmen students of the American University in Central Asia (AUCA). While the article accurately quoted PAO William Stevens regarding AUCA's absence in Education Week activities, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Krol on the continued discussion of the topic at higher levels, the journalist editorialized that U.S. officials are more interested in securing Turkmen participation in Nabucco than the plight of the students. RFE/RL TURKMEN SERVICE AIRES EMBASSY OFFICIAL'S INTERVIEWS ¶6. (U) On November 4th, the RFE/RL Turkmen service broadcast an accurate interview with PAO William Stevens on the issue of Turkmen students who were not allowed to leave for American University in Central Asia (AUCA). The interview emphasized the Embassy's continued efforts seeking to resolve this issue. On November 19th, RFE/RL Turkmen aired another accurate interview by Stevens about an upcoming International Education Conference. On November 30th, RFE/RL aired another interview with Stevens on World Aids Day. The interviews were reported accurately. TURKMEN TV CARRIES INTERVIEW REMARKS BY DAS GEORGE KROL FROM OIL AND GAS CONFERENCE ¶7. (U) On November 25, "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabic, Persian, French) carried a program accurately highlighting the U.S. participation in Turkmenistan's oil and gas exhibition including an interview by Deputy Assistant ASHGABAT 00001605 002.2 OF 002 Secretary of State George Krol. During the interview, Krol stressed that U.S. companies are prepared to invest in Turkmenistan's energy sphere, and outlined the perspectives of future cooperation between Turkmenistan and the United States. A few days after the conference, "Turkmenistan" TV also carried the entirety of the speech that DAS Krol delivered at the Conference. ¶8. (SBU) COMMENT: While the official Turkmen state media did not provide much coverage of Embassy events in November, the coverage provided was accurate and fair. END COMMENT. CURRAN