TURKMENISTAN: EFFECTIVE MEDIA COVERAGE OF DAS KROL AT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000562

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: EFFECTIVE MEDIA COVERAGE OF DAS KROL AT
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONFERENCE

ASHGABAT 00000562 001.2 OF 002



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


2. (U) SUMMARY: Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central
Asia, George Krol, visited Turkmenistan April 22-24, 2009, holding
meetings with government officials and heading the U.S. delegation
at the "Reliable and Secure Transit of Energy and Its Role in
Maintaining Sustainable Economic Development and International
Cooperation" Conference. The visit received generally accurate and
wide media coverage. Krol's April 24 press gaggle with foreign
media stringers and exclusive interviews to "Reuters" and "RFE/RL"
Turkmen language broadcast received accurate and positive coverage.
Yet, some media misinterpreted Krol's remarks regarding policy
toward Iran. Most media coverage focused on Krol's remarks
regarding energy diversification and regional cooperation. Some
media accurately carried Post's press release on the visit. END
SUMMARY.

MEDIA HIGHLIGHT KROL VISIT TO TURKMENISTAN


3. (U) On April 22, the "Watan" evening TV news program (Turkmen)
highlighted Krol's meeting with government officials. The story
noted that Krol was heading the U.S. delegation at the international
conference. The following day, "Turkmenistan" TV Channel (Russian,
Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabian, Persian, French) also
highlighted Krol's official meetings in its short news program and
carried other broader coverage throughout the day. Both "Watan" and
"Turkmenistan" stories carried Krol's accurate interview remarks.
"Turkmenistan" TV channel's April 25 story highlighted Krol's
comments in an interview at the opening of the conference.


4. (U) On April 23, "Times of Central Asia" (English) accurately
reprinted the Embassy press release on the visit.

MEDIA HIGHLIGHT KROL'S SPEECH FROM THE CONFERENCE ON U.S. POLICY FOR
REGIONAL COOPERATION


5. (U) April 24 stories from "Agence France Presse" (English),
Russian "RIA Novosti" (Russian),German "Deutsche Welle" (Russian),
Azeri "Day.Az" (English, Russian),gave accurate quotations and
coverage on Krol's speech at the conference. International media
highlighted Krol's remarks on the importance of partnership
throughout Eurasia, respect for sovereignty of states in the region
and regional cooperation on energy supply. The Azeri and Russian
media made emphasis on Krol's remarks encouraging dialog with
Azerbaijan in developing energy export ties.


6. (U) "Agence France Presse", German "Deutsche Welle" highlighted
Krol's remarks that the Obama administration is placing greater
emphasis on cooperation with the countries of Central Asia. State
daily "Neytralniy Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 47,091) printed an
excerpt of Krol's speech regarding regional cooperation on energy
exports and diversification. (NOTE: Krol was the only featured
speaker with speech excerpts in the paper who represented an
individual country and not one of the many international
organization representatives. END NOTE.)

MEDIA ACCURATE ON KROL'S REMARKS FOR DIVERSIFICATION


7. (U) "Reuters", "Associated Press" (English),"Agence France
Presse", "Deutsche Welle", Russian "RIA Novosti" and "Nezavisimaya
Gazeta" (Russian),Azeri "Day.Az." articles highlighted Krol's
conference remarks on U.S. support for energy diversification. The
"Reuters," "Associated Press," and "Agence France Presse" articles
accurately quoted Krol regarding the recent gas pipeline dispute on
"Central Asia Center - 4" pipeline between Russia and Turkmenistan.
Krol noted that this event or possible natural disasters spoke in
favor of diversifying export routes. The "Reuters" article also
carried Krol's remarks that Turkmenistan showed interest in
"Nabucco" and was waiting for specific proposals. The article also
accurately quoted Krol on human rights in Turkmenistan. The
"Associated Press" story accurately covered Krol's remarks on
opportunities for U.S. companies in Turkmenistan.


ASHGABAT 00000562 002 OF 002



8. (U) "Associated Press," "Agence France Presse," "RIA Novosti"
stories accurately highlighted Krol's remarks that U.S. efforts on
energy diversification was not aimed at undermining Russia in the
region, but rather promoted an uninterrupted and secure energy
supply. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Turkmen language service
(Turkmen) April 27 broadcast accurately carried an exclusive
interview with Krol, addressing many of the same topics. RFE/RL
carried an accurate article based on the radio story on April 28.

SOME MEDIA GIVE MISLEADING REPORT ON IRANIAN ENGAGEMENT


9. "Associated Press" April 24 and "Asia Times Online" (English)
April 28 stories gave an inaccurate description of Krol's remarks
regarding U.S. policy toward Iran. "AP" reported that Krol stated
the U.S. remained open to an Iranian route for NABUCCO. "Asia Times
Online" claimed Krol made a similar statement in his speech at the
conference, which the article noted included Iranian delegates in
the audience. "Kazakhstan Newsline" (English, Russian) reprinted
the "AP" story on April 27. (NOTE: Krol made remarks about the
Obama administration's open approach regarding Iran presto press at
the conference gaggle, but made no statement regarding gas flow
through Iran. END NOTE.)

MEDIA HIGHLIGHT KROL'S REMARKS REGARDING COOPERATION ON AFGHANISTAN


10. (U) The April 24 story from the "RIA Novosti" gave accurate
coverage on Krol's remarks from the press gaggle regarding
transportation of non-lethal supplies through Turkmenistan to
support efforts in Afghanistan. The story accurately quoted Krol
that the United States respected Turkmenistan's neutrality and
political position and was not seeking any specific military
agreements with Turkmenistan.


11. (SBU) COMMENT: With one small exception, the state and
international media coverage of Krol's visit was accurate and
favorable. The exception was the misinterpretation by "AP" that the
United States is open to Iran's inclusion in the NABUCCO project.
Otherwise, Post was pleased not to see any Russian media using the
opportunity to misconstrue Krol's remarks on the gas pipeline as
anti-Russian or part of the new "great game," Those outlets that
might usually be tempted to give such an anti-U.S. slant instead
carried accurately Krol's comments on the benefits of pipeline
diversification. In state media, DAS Krol was well received and had
short appearances in so many reports that Post was unable to track
all of them. Overall, DAS Krol's visit provided a strong, positive
image of U.S. cooperation with Turkmenistan in both state and
international media.

MILES