Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT1605
2009-12-14 03:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: MEDIA HIGHLIGHT NOVEMBER POST EVENTS
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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
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
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