TURKMENISTAN: MEDIA REACTION ON APRIL POST EVENTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000578

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MEDIA REACTION ON APRIL POST EVENTS

REF: (A) Ashgabat 562 (B) Ashgabat 518


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


2. (U) SUMMARY: In addition to coverage of visits by Assistant
Secretary Richard Boucher and DAS George Krol in April (Refs A and
B),April saw media provide generally accurate and favorable
coverage of numerous U.S. visitors and Post-conducted events.
Western websites highlighted the visit to the United States of a
Turkmen TV crew as part of the "TV CO-OP" program. State and
international media covered the early April visit by Director of the
Office of Policy and Evaluation of the Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs Rick Ruth, who came to monitor the progress of
joint projects implemented in Turkmenistan under "Ambassador's Fund
for Cultural Preservation" (AFCP). Media gave favorable coverage of
USAID activities in Turkmenistan. State media also gave accurate
coverage of the visit of the President of Eurasia Foundation for
Central Asia, Jeff Erlich. END SUMMARY.

U.S. GOVERNMENT WEBSITE HIGHLIGHTS TURKMEN TV CREW'S VISIT TO USA
UNDER TV CO-OP PROGRAM


3. (U) On April 2, "Media-Newswire.com" (English) issued a press
release about the TV crew from Turkmenistan visiting Texas A&M
University. The release accurately outlined the purpose of the
visit and highlighted the previous Texas A&M partnership with
Turkmen State University, noting the efforts of Turkmenistan's
Ambassador to the United States to reestablish educational exchanges
with Turkmenistan. On April 11, the "US Fed News" (English)
reprinted the same article.

MEDIA HIGHLIGHT TURKMENISTAN AND USA COOPERATION IN CULTURE


4. (U) On April 4, the government-run website "Turkmenistan Golden
Age" (www.turkmenistan.gov.tm) (Turkmen, Russian and English) posted
an accurate article on ECA's Rick Ruth who made site visits to
Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) projects. The
article praised significant contributions by the United States to
preserve Turkmenistan's cultural heritage. The story gave a broad
description of completed and ongoing projects in Turkmenistan under
AFCP. On April 6, state-run dailies "Neutral Turkmenistan"
(Russian, circ. 47,091) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 36,091)
reprinted the same article from the web on their front pages. The
same day, Russian "RIA OREANDA" (English) Azeri News agency "Trend"
(English, Russian),"TURKMENinform" (Russian),and "The Times of
Central Asia" (English) carried similar stories on Ruth's visit
based on the state media source. An April 4 story on "Turkmenistan"
TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabic, Persian,
French) accurately highlighted interview remarks with Ruth and his
program in the country. Ruth spoke about AFCP projects in general
and praised the close cultural cooperation between the U.S. and
Turkmenistan. On April 6, RFE/RL's Turkmen Broadcast aired an
accurate interview piece with Rick Ruth, where he again outlined
AFCP projects in Turkmenistan.

INTERNATIONAL WEBSITES HIGHLIGHT USAID SUPPORT FOR TURKMEN YOUTH


5. (U) On April 16, Azeri News agency "Trend" (Russian) posted the
Embassy press release on USAID support for Turkmen Youth to
participate in International economics simulation contest. On April
18, the "US Fed News" (English) reprinted the same press release.

EURASIA FOUNDATION VISIT RECEIVES STATE MEDIA COVERAGE


6. (U) On April 14, "Watan" TV evening news program (Turkmen)
carried an accurate story on the visit by President of Eurasia
Foundation for Central Asia, Jeff Erlich, highlighting his
government meetings. On April 19, "Turkmenistan" TV channel
(Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabic, Persian, French) aired
an accurate interview with Erlich, in which he fully introduced the
Eurasia Foundation and its goals. The program emphasized the
Foundation's aim to cooperate with Turkmenistan in business, oil and
gas, specialist training and other areas.


ASHGABAT 00000578 002 OF 002


STATE TV CHANNEL PRAISES USAID/IFRS TRAINING CENTER


7. (U) On April 19, state "Altyn Asyr" TV channel (Turkmen) carried
a long and accurate story about the IFRS (International Financial
Reporting Standards) training center at the Supreme Council for
Science and Technology of Turkmenistan, which was opened last year
by USAID. The story included interview remarks by some of the state
university professors, who had been taking IFRS courses at the
center, and mainly carried archived video from the center's opening
ceremony in 2008. The professors stressed the importance of the
center for Turkmen specialists, and praised the role of USAID in
organizing trainings, carrying projects in healthcare and education
systems of Turkmenistan. (NOTE: Per usual practice, interviewees
first expressed their thanks to the President of Turkmenistan,
giving him the credit for creation of the center. END NOTE).

U.S. CHARGE D'AFFAIRES SPEAKS IN STATE TV CULTURAL PROGRAM


8. (U) On April 29, "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen,
English, Chinese, Arabic, Persian, French) carried accurate
interview remarks in Russian by U.S. Charge d'Affaires Richard Miles
at an exhibition of art by a Turkmen artist.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD BOUCHER'S PRESS-CONFERENCE
RECEIVES STATE TV COVERAGE


9. (U) On April 30, "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen,
English, Chinese, Arabic, Persian, French) carried an accurate story
on Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher's visit. Even though the
broadcast appeared much later than the visit, the story highlighted
A/S Boucher's session with students at the Institute of
International Relations of Turkmenistan and a press-conference with
media. The story also included Boucher's accurate interview remarks
from the Institute and highlights of his opening remarks from the
press-conference. Also see reftel B.

STATE MEDIA COVERS THE VISIT OF DEPUTY ASSISTANT U.S. TRADE
REPRESENTATIVE


10. (U) On April 29, "Watan" TV evening news program (Turkmen)
carried a short, accurate video report on the meetings of the Deputy
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, Mr.
Claudio Lilienfeld with government officials. On May 4,
"Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese,
Arabic, Persian, French) carried an interview with Mr. Lilienfeld,
who talked about expanding cooperation in trade and investment with
Turkmenistan, and noted the willingness of U.S. companies to invest
in the country. The same day, RFE/RL Turkmen Broadcast aired an
accurate interview piece with Lilienfeld, who explained the purpose
of his visit and talked about the U.S.-Turkmenistan economic
relationship.


11. (SBU) COMMENT: During April, State TV continued close
cooperation with post in covering U.S. visitors or programs,
including seeking clarifications in order to provide accurate
coverage. Post observed that some state journalists ask more varied
questions and have presented stories in a slightly more modern way.
This may be the influence of a BBC training program with the
Ministry of Culture's journalists. Surprisingly, one print article
on Rick Ruth's visit apparently was written based on state TV
coverage alone. Overall, state media has shown slightly improved
efforts to obtain accurate information and to cover U.S. events and
programs favorably, including acknowledgement of U.S. assistance.
END COMMENT.

MILES