TURKMENISTAN: MEDIA COVERAGE OF EUR/ACE COORDINATOR

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000311 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP, ECA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MEDIA COVERAGE OF EUR/ACE COORDINATOR VISIT ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Daniel Rosenblum, Coordinator for U.S. Assistance in Europe and Eurasia visited Turkmenistan February 23-24, 2009, holding a number of meetings in Turkmenistan. State media inaccurately reported Rosenblum's title, which was then replicated in many outlets, including non-state media. Otherwise, the visit received neutral to positive coverage. END SUMMARY STATE MEDIA MISSES KEY DETAILS OF ROSENBLUM VISIT ¶2. (SBU) On February 23 and February 24, the "Watan" TV news program (Turkmen) highlighted Rosenblum's visit to Turkmenistan, running video from several meetings at state agencies. The story misquoted Rosenblum stating that he discussed President Berdimuhamedov's reforms to improve the country's living conditions. The news story also inaccurately gave Rosenblum's title as Deputy Assistant to the U.S. Assistance Coordinator. The front page articles of state-run dailies "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 46,091) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 36,091) on February 24 also highlighted the visit, giving details on the scheduled meetings. But the print outlets also ran the incorrect title for Rosenblum. The Government-run website "Turkmenistan Golden Age" (www.turkmenistan.gov.tm) (Turkmen, Russian and English) reprinted the state dailies' articles. STATE TV FAILS TO CARRY INTERVIEW BROADCAST ¶3. (U) State "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabic, Persian, French) conducted an interview with Rosenblum on February 24. The broadcast was scheduled to air on March 4, but the TV station informed Post that the broadcast would be postponed for a week as it overlapped with a number of upcoming state events in the country. (NOTE: Events include a widely covered Elderly People's Council, scheduled for March 6, and International Woman's Day, marked on March 8. END NOTE.) FOREIGN MEDIA PICK UP STATE MEDIA INACCURACIES ¶4. (U) February 23 and February 24 articles about the Rosenblum visit appeared on Turkmen opposition website "Gundogar.org" (Russian) and Russian news agency "RIA OREANDA" (English) and were based on state media reporting. The news agencies carried the same inaccurate title for on Rosenblum. An RFE/RL February 26 website story on Rosenblum's visit was generally accurate, except it also carried the same inaccuracy. However, by Embassy request it was corrected the following day. ¶5. (U) On February 24 and February 26, the RFE/RL Turkmen language radio broadcast ran generally accurate coverage and interviews with Rosenblum and Post's CAO on the visit. ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: State media's incorrect use of Rosenblum's "praise" for Turkmen reforms is an isolated but alarming event, which is more reflective of media policy under the first President's "golden age." Otherwise the Rosenblum visit coverage was generally accurate. However, the repeated error involving the title demonstrates the extent to which many foreign media outlets rely on state media content for news here, thereby reinforcing the importance of engaging carefully and consistently with Turkmen state media. END COMMENT. MILES