TURKMENISTAN: MARCH MEDIA REACTION - MEDIA PRAISE GROWING

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000436

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP, ECA

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (GARBLED TEXT)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MARCH MEDIA REACTION - MEDIA PRAISE GROWING
TURKMEN-US RELATIONSHIP


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.


2. (U) SUMMARY: In March, media favorably and accurately covered
events reflecting U.S.-Turkmenistan cooperation in education and
health care, and highlighted various U.S. visits. The visit by
USAID Regional Director William Frej in early March, and USAID
projects in Turkmenistan received wide and accurate coverage. The
state media also accurately covered educational delegations from
Harriman Institute of Columbia University and American University in
Bulgaria. END SUMMARY.

USAID REGIONAL DIRECTOR'S VISIT, MOSTLY WELL-COVERED


3. (U) On March 10-11, RFE/RL Turkmen Broadcast service carried
accurate interview pieces with visiting USAID regional director
William Frej. On March 10, RFE/RL website carried an article
(English) based on the radio story, in which Mr. Frej was quoted
misleadingly out of context, implying that medical care for mothers
and children is in a critical state in Turkmenistan, while the
intention was to note the high level of attention paid to this issue
by the government and USAID programs. Upon embassy request, RFE/RL
added slightly more context and reposted the article. Overall, the
article accurately outlined USAID projects in Turkmenistan and
hailed its activities in the country. The following day, "The Times
of Central Asia" (English) reprinted the RFE/RL article. On March
17, "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese,
Arabian, Persian, French) carried an accurate report on the visit,
highlighting an interview with Frej and USAID Country
Representative. The TV program gave a broad image of
USAID-implemented projects in Turkmenistan and praised the growing
U.S.-Turkmenistan relationship.

MEDIA HIGHLIGHT USAID PROJECTS IN TURKMENISTAN


4. (U) On March 13, Azeri News agency "Trend" (English),posted an
article based on the Embassy press release about USAID-organized
training on March 12 to raise Avian Influenza response capacity in
Turkmenistan. The same day, Kyrgyzstan-based "CA-NEWS" (Russian)
reprinted the exact content of the same press release. The
following day, the government-run website "Turkmenistan - Golden
Age" (www.turkmenistan.gov.tm) (Turkmen, Russian and English) also
posted an accurate article about the event. On March 16, state-run
dailies "Neutral Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 47,091) and
"Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 36,091) reprinted the web article.


5. (U) On March 24, the government-run website "Turkmenistan -
Golden Age" (www.turkmenistan.gov.tm) (Turkmen, Russian and
English),based on an Embassy press release, carried an accurate and
lengthy article about USAID's conference dedicated to World
Tuberculosis Day in Turkmenistan. The article gave accurate details
on the event and accurately quoted the U.S. Charge d'Affaires. The
following day, state-run dailies "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian,
circ. 47,091) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 36,091) reprinted
the web article. On March 25, "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian,
Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabian, Persian, French) carried a short
report on the event on its ten minute news program. The following
day, the TV channel carried a separate feature-length story on the
event. The program praised the state health policy and emphasized
USAID's role. The story featured interview remarks by Turkmen
representatives at the event, but omitted interview remarks by the
U.S. Charge d'Affaires and USAID Country Representative. The TV
channel gave no explanation for cutting U.S. officials' remarks.

MEDIA PRAISE US-TURKMEN EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES


6. (U) On March 23, the government-run website "Turkmenistan -
Golden Age" (www.turkmenistan.gov.tm) (Turkmen, Russian and
English),state-run dailies "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian,
circ. 47,091) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 36,091) and "Watan"
TV evening news program (Turkmen) gave brief and accurate report on
the visiting American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) delegation. The
following day, the independent news website www.turkmeninform.com
(Russian) also posted an article on the visit. On March 26, state

newspaper "Watan" (Turkmen, circ. 31,691) gave a short report on the
visit. On March 24, "Watan" TV news program (Turkmen) accurately
highlighted the delegation's meeting with the students and faculty
of Turkmen State University. The news story carried interview
remarks by the AUBG president, who expressed willingness to
establish contacts with the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan
for educational exchanges. On March 26, "Turkmenistan" TV channel
(Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabian, Persian, French)
accurately highlighted the delegation's meetings at the Turkmen
State University and the Institute of International Affairs. The
program featured interview remarks by the delegation members,
professors from the universities and Embassy's Public Affairs
Officer. On March 31, "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen,
English, Chinese, Arabian, Persian, French) accurately highlighted
the delegation's meeting at Turkmenistan's Ministry of Education
with follow-up interview remarks by AUBG's president.


7. (U) On March 12, the government-run website "Turkmenistan -
Golden Age" (www.turkmenistan.gov.tm) (Turkmen, Russian and English)
carried a short introduction on delegations from the Harriman
Institute at Columbia University and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. The following day, state-run dailies "Neytralniy
Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 47,091) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen,
circ. 36,091) reprinted the web article. Independent news website
www.turkmeninform.com (Russian) also carried a news piece on
Columbia University delegation's visit, based on state media
reporting. On March 16, "Watan" TV evening news program (Turkmen)
accurately highlighted the Columbia delegation's visit to Turkmen
State University, followed with interview remarks by the delegation
members. The March 17 article in state-run daily "Neytralniy
Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 47,091) praised education exchange
opportunities between the United States and Turkmenistan. The
following day, another state weekly "Mugallymlar gazeti" (Teachers'
newspaper) (Turkmen, circ. 94,091) carried an article praising the
cooperation between Columbia University and Turkmen State
University.

STATE MEDIA COVERS U.S. CSIS REPRESENTATIVE'S MEETINGS WITH
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OF TURKMENISTAN


8. (U) On March 17, "Watan" TV evening news program (Turkmen)
accurately highlighted a visit by senior fellow of U.S. Center for
Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Mr. Edward Chow. The
following day, the state-run dailies "Neytralniy Turkmenistan"
(Russian, circ. 47,091) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 36,091)
gave a short introduction on the visit and Mr. Chow's meetings. On
March 24, "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, English,
Chinese, Arabian, Persian, French) carried accurate interview with
Mr. Chow, where he spoke about the purpose of his visit and his
assessment of Turkmenistan's oil and gas prospects.

STATE TV NEWS PROGRAM CARRIES U.S. CHARGE D'AFFAIRES INTERVIEW
DURING TREE PLANTING CAMPAIGN


9. (U) On March 14, "Watan" TV news program accurately carried
interview remarks by Charge d'Affaires regarding a tree planting
campaign, attended by President of Turkmenistan. During the
interview the Charge stressed the importance of initiatives such as
planting trees.

STATE TV CHANNEL HIGHLIGHT THE VISIT OF THE HEAD OF "FIT
INTERNATIONAL" COMPANY FROM USA


10. (SBU) On March 26, "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen,
English, Chinese, Arabian, Persian, French) carried accurate story
on "Fit International" company's visit. The story introduced the
purpose of the visit, and highlighted meetings at different
ministries of Turkmenistan. In his interview remarks, the head of
the company praised Turkmenistan and expressed readiness to expand
cooperation in education, tourism and sports. He also praised
business opportunities for American investors in Turkmenistan.
(NOTE: "Fit International" is affiliated with the "Friends of the
Turkmen" a group which has independently cultivated ties with the

Turkmen government. END NOTE.)


11. (SBU) COMMENT: The past month saw continued success in gaining
positive coverage of Embassy events, particularly USAID programs, in
both state and non-state media. A year ago, USAID's World TB event
was recorded by state TV, but never aired, perhaps due to the
sensitive nature of the topic. Thus, this year's coverage, even
without U.S. interview remarks, represents improvement. In
addition, state media reps continue their open contact with the
Public Affairs Section, requesting interviews with official visitors
or simply to fish for new stories. RFE/RL's correction of their web
story (para. 3) represents the second time that an embassy request
for a correction was honored. END COMMENT.

MILES