Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT311
2009-03-09 12:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: MEDIA COVERAGE OF EUR/ACE COORDINATOR
how-toVZCZCXRO3963 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0311 0681247 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 091247Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2431 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2672 RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4909 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2537 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3153 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3372 RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
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
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
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