Mediastan Page #4

in a completely different way than if it's a regular person.

Because a regular person does not have the power to...

...to say no.

Here is a cable which is marked 'Secret / Noforn'

and that means that not even allied states are allowed to read it.

And it's about a meeting between the US Ambassador

[ Location:

Kyrgyzstan ]

and the Kyrgyz Foreign Minister.

So here it goes:

The Ambassador and the Kyrgyz Foreign Minister

met at the Ambassador's residence mid afternoon.

President Bakiyev, the dictator that was

just kicked out in the revolution a few months ago

told him that he was authorised

to sign the agreements on the US military base

but the agreement must be kept secret.

The Foreign Minister said that

ha needed time to work with public opinion and the parliament

before he could roll out the new agreement publicly.

He asked for our assistance in preparing the Kyrgyz public opinion

specifically by placing articles in the local Russian language press.

[ Protest in front of Presidential Palace in Kyrgyzstan ]

[ Footage from revolution in Kyrgyzstan

recorded a few months earlier ]

I was fascinated about power.

I wanted to get to

the top floor of the palace.

I served my Government

- not President Bakiev.

I wrote his speeches.

And he read them.

Because I can write beautifully,

especially in Kyrgyz.

The President read his speeches...

...but nobody believed what he said.

I felt this all the time.

I even had difficulties looking

people in the eyes...

...especially during the last months

of his regime.

I was on the 5th floor of the palace...

...when I saw all the bloodshed

with my own eyes.

They attacked from the square...

I ran from the back of the Palace.

It's a long story...

But on the following morning

a weight was lifted from my shoulders.

Because I had found my liberty.

[ SULTANBEK JOUMAGULOV,

Director "Radio Liberty" ]

The Kyrgyz society is

different from it's neighbors,

...it's a vibrant society.

Demonstrations and all of that...

is far from negative.

I'ts just the other side of the coin.

It's a society heading somewhere,

trying to achieve something.

I think that the West

has also gone through...

...a period of demonstrations

and turmoil, right?

I think that Kyrgyzstan, will soon...

...I want to accentuate it again...

...will become a model

for other countries of Central Asia...

...unless someone interferes.

Do you believe this?

- I do!

It's just that many have told us

that this is temporary...

No, I believe in this.

What is happening...

The fact that Radio Liberty exists...

with its TV-project...

It doesn't exist in the other countries,

not in Dushanbe, not in...

- That's true but...

And that is not a merit to our staff.

It is a merit to the whole

Kyrgyz society.

It is not a merit to the President.

The society demands it.

The society wants it.

- In that case, are there in

your opinion any questions...

...that you would not be

able to publish?

Anything at all?

I mean is there any censorship

or self-censorship on your station?

You mean Radio Liberty?

- Yes

We don't have any forbidden topics.

We are absolutely free.

But we have the statutes

of Radio Liberty.

...and that is that we must abide by the ethical

standards of international journalism.

If you would want to...

...we would be able to provide you

with the archive on Kyrgyzstan.

Would that interest you?

Absolutely, that would be

very interesting.

And you would be able to use it?

Absolutely, absolutely,

Absolutely.

Yes we can.

Honestly speaking I didn't expect...

...our interview to be about...

...WikiLeaks.

I thought that we...

...that I would tell you about

freedom of speech in Kyrgyzstan.

The agreement from the side

of Radio Liberty...

...will be arranged by

my boss...

...who is in Prague.

[ The next day ]

Should we hurry up?

We're on our way!

Hello, Dmitri!

- Yes

Well... our people have said that

we can't sign the memorandum...

...since we...

we in principle don't...

...we can't get involved

in any limitations...

But listen, this memorandum,

first of all it is not legally binding,

...it's a gentlemen's agreement.

And secondly there is an important issue

about your responsibility.

And it says that if you do not fulfill the clauses

the partnership is just cancelled.

In other words there are

no liabilities.

Well, yes... but it's just that...

...apparently we technically can't

sign the memorandum.

All of these materials will be published

sooner or later anyway.

Sure they will...

...but it's just a question of who is going

to publish them.

...it's a question of time and...

You see, there are most likely

some sensitive issues...

I mean, we are

...nonetheless...

...an American...

...maybe that's why.

Well, Radio Liberty is financed

by the US State Department?

By the Congress.

[ Location:

Afghanistan ]

Here is a cable about a meeting that the US Ambassador has

with the Governor of Mazar-e-Sharif here in Northern Afghanistan.

This is what the Governor says:

He let loose with a litany of complaints

about the Swedish presence in Afghanistan.

He described the relationship to the Swedish military as cold

saying that the only times that the Swedish commanders visit

are when they first arrive in Mazar

and when they pay their farewell calls.

Nor did he spare criticism for the Swedish media

who he claimed never bothered to talk to politicians

or ordinary people during visits to the military base

and thus only heard positive accounts of its work

instead of hearing the views of the local residents.

Then the cable goes on about basically all other Afghani politicians

[ Swedish Military Base

in Afghanistan ]

asking that Sweden leaves Afghanistan.

It kind of leaves you thinking, why is Sweden here in that case?

[ ANNE-CHARLOTTE MALM,

Swedish development advisor in Afghanistan ]

The right to vote I think is very appreciated.

And the people want democracy.

But it's difficult in a country with so poor education.

And so little experience in democracy to obtain democracy.

My colleagues and I are responsible for this section

in Northern Afghanistan.

And we have this special task

to find synergies...

...between the Armed Forces and humanitarian aid

and to cooperate with the Army.

To find synergies with the Army?

What does that mean?

Well, that's a good question.

And we have tried to find an answer to it.

Because this is what

the Government is telling us to do.

But they are not really

explaining what it means.

But what do you think is the purpose

of the US Military presence in Afghanistan?

I don't want to speculate on that.

But do you think that there is a risk that your task

which might be good hearted and important...

...is used to bribe the locals to support

that which you don't want to talk about...

...to support a military presence, which might be

about something completely different?

I don't know...

Let me give you a list

of projects that we support...

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