TURKEY WAITING FOR RESPONSE TO IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION

UNCLAS ANKARA 003975 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR E, EB, EUR/SE, NEA/NGA, AND IO NSC FOR QUANRUD AND BRYZA DEPT PASS USAID FOR OFDA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL TU IZ SUBJECT: TURKEY WAITING FOR RESPONSE TO IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSALS REF: A) IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION PAPER PROVIDED BY ZIYAL ON JUNE 16 B) ANKARA 3913 C) ANKARA 3832 D) ANKARA 3848 E) ANKARA 3777 ¶1. This cable contains an action request. See paras 2 and 4. ¶2. Summary and action request: The GOT has proposed various types of Iraq Reconstruction assistance, including: the donation of office supplies, vegetable seeds, and two hospitals; the provision of electricity and mobile phone lines; reestablishment of civair links; and sending personnel to ORHA. The GOT is waiting for a USG or OCPA response on each of these proposals. Post would appreciate Dept/OCPA's guidance on responding to the GOT soonest. End summary and action request. ¶3. The GOT has recently made several proposals related to Iraq reconstruction and humanitarian assistance for which it is waiting a USG/CPA response (refs). These proposals include: -- Provision of office supplies and furniture (ref B): In response to a request from the Iraqi MFA, the GOT is prepared to send office supplies to Iraq via Harbur Gate. The MFA has requested OCPA authorization for this shipment, and that U.S. authorities in Iraq take appropriate security measures to help ensure safe passage of the drivers/trucks transporting the supplies. -- Hospitals (ref C): The GOT has proposed funding construction of and equipment for two hospitals in Baghdad and Kirkuk, and has asked that the USG advise with which entity in Iraq the GOT could pursue this proposal. -- Reestablishing civair links (ref D, E): The GOT is interested in starting flights between Baghdad and Istanbul as soon as possible. Embassy looks forward to Department response to ref E, regarding establishing civilian air control between Iraq and Turkey. -- Resumes for ORHA personnel: The GOT has provided several resumes of individuals who could be seconded to ORHA, which we have forwarded to Department, and is waiting a response. -- Electricity: Ref A states that the GOT has proposed to supply Iraq with 70 MW of electricity. MFA Coordinator for Iraqi Reconstruction Ambassador Okcun clarified to EconCouns that this is a commercial offer from a private Turkish company. Okcun requested that we inform the MFA if OCPA is interested, and the MFA will coordinate with the company. -- Telecommunications: Ref A states that the GOT had previously proposed to donate a 300-line mobile phone switchboard with a satellite connection. The GOT is waiting for a OCPA response to this proposal (note: we had not seen this proposal prior to ref A). -- Harbur Gate: Ref A proposes that Turkey open a new border gate near the Syrian border, which would require construction of two bridges over the Tigris and 30 km of new road on the Iraqi side of the border. The GOT requests a U.S. response to this proposal. -- Provision of vegetable seeds: We understand that U/S Ziyal raised during his to U/S Grossman June 16 the GOT's willingness to send vegetable seeds to relieve the severe seed shortage in southern Iraq. The GOT will need a point of contact at OCPA to facilitate this shipment. ¶4. (SBU) Action request: We would like to respond to the GOT as soon as possible regarding their various proposals. Post would appreciate Dept/OCPA's guidance. PEARSON