TURKMENISTAN: MEDIA REACTION ON JULY POST EVENTS

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000951 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 JULY POST EVENTS ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (U) SUMMARY: In July, media carried accurate and favorable coverage of post events. U.S. Independence Day and the speech which the Charge d'Affaires delivered at Post's official reception were highlighted in state print media. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Bill Burns' press conference, which was held during his July 10-11 visit to Turkmenistan, received generally accurate coverage on the state TV channel. Also, media provided generally accurate coverage of United States Agency of International Development (USAID) projects in Turkmenistan. END SUMMARY. STATE PRINT OUTLETS HIGHLIGHT JULY 4TH CELEBRATION OF U.S. INDEPENDENCE ¶3. (U) On July 4, the state-run dailies "Neutral Turkmenistan" (Russian, circ. 47,091) and "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen, circ. 36,091) posted an accurate speech delivered by Charge d'Affaires Richard Miles at Post's Independence Day reception, which Post submitted to the newspapers in advance. Also, the same day, Turkish newspaper "Zaman-International's" Turkmenistan edition (Turkmen, circ. 34,100) published an article accurately highlighting Post's reception, followed by the Charge's speech. STATE TV CHANNEL HIGHLIGHTS PRESS-CONFERENCE WITH UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE ¶4. (U) On July 17, "Turkmenistan" TV channel (Russian, Turkmen, English, Chinese, Arabic, Persian, French) accurately highlighted the press conference held on July 11, during the visit of Under Secretary of State Bill Burns. The broadcast included accurate interview remarks made by Burns and Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy Richard Morningstar. MEDIA CARRY POST PRESS RELEASES ON USAID PROJECTS ¶5. (U) On July 11, "US Fed News" (English) ran a Post-issued press release on a USAID program on econometrics for Turkmen specialists. On July 13, "Targeted News Service" (English) posted a press release issued earlier by Post regarding USAID's distribution of materials on tuberculosis throughout Turkmenistan. The following day, Kyrgyzstan based "CA-NEWS" (Russian) accurately reprinted the same press release. Also, the same press release was posted by "US Fed News" (English) on July 23. On July 17, Kyrgyzstan based "CA-NEWS" (Russian) and Kazakh news agency "KZ Press-Club" (Russian) carried Post's press release on a USAID-funded training course for specialists working with drug users. On July 23, "US Fed News" (English) also posted the same press release. On July 22, Azeri news agency "Trend" (Russian) carried a Post-issued press release on a USAID sponsored study tour to the National Bank of Kazakhstan for Turkmen bank specialists. The same press release was posted by "US Fed News" (English) on July 23. ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: During July, local and international media carried generally accurate coverage of Post events. Compared to previous years, this year, state media showed a significant interest in the celebration of Independence Day, and published stories about it on state newspapers. USAID activities in Turkmenistan continue to receive accurate and favorable coverage. END COMMENT. CURRAN