Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT36
2009-01-09 12:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
REPRIMAND OF TURKMENISTAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO3221 PP RUEHAG RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHAH #0036 0091247 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 091247Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2092 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4657 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2460 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2325 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2905 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3199
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000036
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
USTDA FOR STEIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/09/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR ECPS TX
SUBJECT: REPRIMAND OF TURKMENISTAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
MINISTER, A COMMENT ON THE IMPORTANCE PUBLIC IMAGE
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Richard Miles. Reasons 1.4 (B) a
nd (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000036
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
USTDA FOR STEIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/09/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR ECPS TX
SUBJECT: REPRIMAND OF TURKMENISTAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
MINISTER, A COMMENT ON THE IMPORTANCE PUBLIC IMAGE
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Richard Miles. Reasons 1.4 (B) a
nd (D).
1. (U) President Berdimuhamedov reprimanded the Minister of
Communications, Resulberdi Hojagurbanov, by a decree
published in Neytralniy Turkmenistan on January 2, "for
shortcomings in implementing the President's instructions for
transmission of the New Year's greetings from the provinces."
The decree noted that faulty technology used in the official
New Year's television transmission impaired the quality of
transmitted sound, and ended with a warning that the
President would fire the Minister if he neglected to take
necessary corrective actions. One example of what happened
is that viewers of the program were unable to hear an elderly
citizen of the Ahal province during his congratulatory
speech. At the end of his speech, the technical problem was
resolved.
2. (C) Head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development Resident, Neil McKain, told the Director of the
U.S. Trade and Development Agency Europe and Eurasia, Daniel
Stein, that he had heard that Hojagurbanov has contacts in
Turkmenistan's security agencies that will likely protect him
from losing his job.
3. (C) COMMENT: The decree underscores the importance the
president places on maintaining a positive public image --
especially as it concerns technology. The presidential
administration was likely very embarrassed by this gaffe.
The fact that Hojagurbanov is unlikely to be fired is an
indication of the influence that security agencies have in
even the most distant ministries. END COMMENT.
MILES
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
USTDA FOR STEIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/09/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR ECPS TX
SUBJECT: REPRIMAND OF TURKMENISTAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
MINISTER, A COMMENT ON THE IMPORTANCE PUBLIC IMAGE
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Richard Miles. Reasons 1.4 (B) a
nd (D).
1. (U) President Berdimuhamedov reprimanded the Minister of
Communications, Resulberdi Hojagurbanov, by a decree
published in Neytralniy Turkmenistan on January 2, "for
shortcomings in implementing the President's instructions for
transmission of the New Year's greetings from the provinces."
The decree noted that faulty technology used in the official
New Year's television transmission impaired the quality of
transmitted sound, and ended with a warning that the
President would fire the Minister if he neglected to take
necessary corrective actions. One example of what happened
is that viewers of the program were unable to hear an elderly
citizen of the Ahal province during his congratulatory
speech. At the end of his speech, the technical problem was
resolved.
2. (C) Head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development Resident, Neil McKain, told the Director of the
U.S. Trade and Development Agency Europe and Eurasia, Daniel
Stein, that he had heard that Hojagurbanov has contacts in
Turkmenistan's security agencies that will likely protect him
from losing his job.
3. (C) COMMENT: The decree underscores the importance the
president places on maintaining a positive public image --
especially as it concerns technology. The presidential
administration was likely very embarrassed by this gaffe.
The fact that Hojagurbanov is unlikely to be fired is an
indication of the influence that security agencies have in
even the most distant ministries. END COMMENT.
MILES