TURKMENISTAN: JANUARY MEDIA REACTION, MIXED RESULTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000191 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP, ECA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: JANUARY MEDIA REACTION, MIXED RESULTS ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: In January, state media highlighted some Embassy events, but at times, omitted any mention of a U.S. role. State media were reluctant to cover donations of musical instruments to local schools, although anything that would highlight the poor state of some schools would be difficult for the Turkmen state to feature. This month also saw another useful chance to engage Turkmen audiences through RFE/RL's Turkmen service. In addition, the Azeri "Trend" news outlet has become a frequent user of Embassy press releases in its coverage of Turkmenistan. END SUMMARY. RFE/RL TURKMEN LANGUAGE PROGRAM CARRIES INTERVIEW WITH PAO ¶3. (U) On January 19, "Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's" Turkmen language broadcast carried an accurate interview with Embassy's Public Affairs Officer about the U.S. Presidential inauguration, its historic significance, and challenges and expectations under President Barack Obama. PAO stressed that the U.S. will continue to promote good relations with Turkmenistan. The interview was broadcast six times over two days, January 19-20. INTERNATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE OF USAID-SUPPORTED PROJECTS ¶4. (U) On January 23, Azeri news agency "Trend" (Russian, English) posted an article on USAID support of food projects in Turkmenistan and referred to a Post-issued press release. The article emphasized the role of USAID-financed "Local initiatives for development" program in ensuring the local economic and agricultural development. STATE MEDIA COVERS IRI VISIT ¶5. (U) On January 26, the "Watan" TV news program (Turkmen) highlighted the visit of the Director for Eurasia of the International Republican Institute (IRI),Mr. Steven B. Nix. The program reported on his meetings with members of Parliament, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, and included hi interview remarks, including hope for further cooperation between the Mejlis (Turkmen parliament) and IRI. STATE MEDIA COVER THE INTERNET CEREMONY AT NATIONAL LIBRARY ¶6. (U) On January 27, the National Library and the U.S. Embassy jointly opened the Library's new Internet Center for use by the public. The Library's connection to the Internet and some equipment was funded by the Embassy. Media coverage was extensive but later began to omit the U.S. contribution. The event also highlighted books donated to the Library by "Scholastic" and conveyed by the Embassy. ¶7. (U) Print and Internet: On January 27, the government-run website "Turkmenistan Golden Age" (www.turkmenistan.gov.tm) (Turkmen, Russian and English) gave an advance announcement of the official opening of the National Library's Internet center that would take place later the same day, and recognizing the U.S. Embassy's role in supporting the project. The article was written by Turkmen State News Service (TDH) and repeated in other print articles. The same day, similar reports appeared on the front pages of state-run dailies "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 46,091) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 36,091). The next day, January 28, the same government-run website posted a longer, and accurate article by Turkmen State News Service about the Internet center opening. The article used Post's press release, and included quotes given by the Charge d'Affaires in his remarks at the event. It emphasized that the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy as an active contributor to the Library's Internet connection. Also on the 28th, the same article appeared in state-run dailies "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" and "Turkmenistan." On January 30, the same TDH article appeared on front pages of the state newspaper "Watan" (Turkmen, circ. 31,691). The same day, state newspaper "Ashgabat" (Turkmen, circ. 23,091) posted a front page article, mostly thanking the President of Turkmenistan for the National Library Internet ASHGABAT 00000191 002 OF 003 connection. Also, it also quoted the Charge on the significance of Internet. On January 30, state newspaper "Edebiyat we Sungat" ("Literature and Art") (Turkmen, circ. 37,000) posted an article written by a staff member of the National Library. The author underlined the important role of the U.S. Embassy in completing the Internet connection and was the only article also to mention U.S. "Scholastic" books that were also donated to the library. ¶8. (SBU) Unfortunately, State print media dropped references to U.S. support in subsequent articles. On January 30, the state-run daily "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 46,091) ran a long article about the Internet at the National Library, which gave a broad picture of the Library and Internet itself. However, it made no mention of the U.S. Embassy role, but praised the President and gave credit to some Turkmen government entities that were involved. ¶9. (U) TV coverage: On January 28, "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabian, Persian, French) carried brief coverage of the Internet opening event in its hourly news program and noted the U.S. role. On the following day, the same TV channel carried accurate coverage of the event, highlighting interview remarks by the U.S. Charge d'Affaires, the Public Affairs Officer, and an IATP Representative. On January 30, "Yashlyk" TV channel (Turkmen) also gave coverage of the same event, but did not mention the U.S. Embassy's assistance in the project, even though the station conducted an interview with the PAO at the event site. Instead, the story included an interview with a Library staff member, who noted the donated "Scholastic" books. There was no mention, however, of the U.S. Embassy's role. SOME INTERNATIONAL COVERAGE OF INTERNET AT THE NATIONAL LIBRARY ¶10. (U) On January 27, the Azeri news agency "Trend" (Russian, English) posted the article accurately highlighting the launching of Internet center at National Library as a part of NATO specialized project "Virtual Silk Road," and introducing Supreme Council on Science and Technology of Turkmenistan as the coordinator of the project. It made no mention of the U.S. role and appeared to draw upon the initial announcement made by state media (see para. 7). On the following day, "Trend" posted another article about the Internet center, which drew from Post's press release and quoted the Charge. On January 29, the independent news website www.turkmeninform.com (Russian) posted a fairly short article on the same event, but there was no mention of the U.S. Embassy. Instead, it stated that the project became possible thanks to the Supreme Council of Science and Technology of Turkmenistan. SOME COVERAGE OF EMBASSY'S DONATION TO MUSIC SCHOOLS ¶11. (SBU) Embassy invited state media to cover the donations of musical instruments to four music schools and one orphanage in late January and early February. Unfortunately, media turnout was minimal, despite Post's efforts. The four music schools are older, Soviet-era buildings, which state media usually prefer not to use for video material. ¶12. (U) On January 31, the state-run dailies "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 46,091) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 36,091) ran a short article by the Turkmen State News Service, highlighting the Embassy's donation ceremonies of musical instruments to art and music schools in Ashgabat. On the same day, the state newspaper "Watan" (Turkmen, circ. 31,691) ran a longer story about one of the donation ceremonies. The article was written by a teacher from the art school receiving the donation, and it accurately described the ceremony and emphasized the active participation of the Charge in the event. ¶13. (SBU) COMMENT: Post saw a mixed record of success with state media during January. After first acknowledging U.S. help, the later omissions of U.S. support for the National Library's Internet center appears to be the first such instance since the Niyazov era. However, it is worth noting that the Turkmen government has always been reluctant to highlight foreign assistance or -- in the case of the school donations -- film events in older, run-down schools. ASHGABAT 00000191 003 OF 003 Separately, the Azeri "Trend" news agency appears to have become a regular user of the Embassy's press releases, thereby extending accurate coverage of the Embassy's work in Turkmenistan. Post believes that RFE/RL has become useful and a more common medium for presenting information about the United States to Turkmen audiences. But Post notes that the radio's Turkmen service has no reliable listenership statistics. END COMMENT. MILES