IRAQ: CONGESTION AT HABUR BORDER CROSSING REQUIRES

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005680

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2013
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS ETRD ETTC TU IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ: CONGESTION AT HABUR BORDER CROSSING REQUIRES
ATTENTION - PROPOSAL FOR JOINT-TURKISH-IRAQI-US WORKING
GROUP TO STREAMLINE PROCESSING OF TRAFFIC


Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch. Reasons 1.5 B and D.
Recommendation at para 2.



1. (C) Over the past week, Post has fielded multiple reports
from a variety of sources, including the CPA and the Turkish
MFA, about delays, extremely long lines, extensive searches
and unhappy truckers on both sides of the Habur
Bridge/Ibrahim Khalil border crossing between Iraq and
Turkey. Because the coalition uses this sole border crossing
between the two countries to re-supply troops and to get
urgently needed commodities like LPG and diesel fuel into
Iraq, bottlenecks at the bridge are a serious source of
concern and a strategic liability. Short-term solutions have
reduced lines and/or expedited trucks carrying urgently
needed cargo, but these ad hoc solutions do not solve the
fundamental problem of limited capacity and duplicative
procedures on both sides of the border. Given the interest on
both sides of the border and in the coalition to have goods
flow as quickly as possible, the requirement on both sides to
screen trucks for contraband and ensure proper documentation,
and the likelihood that the volume will continue to increase
over time, we believe a joint US-Turkish-Iraqi approach to a
solution is required.



2. (S) RECOMMENDATION: We recommend that a working group be
convened at Habur/Ibrahim Khalil as soon as possible
including experts from the Turkish and Iraqi sides, and reps
from the CPA (including appropriate US Customs/border
experts),US Mission Turkey and KBR, to discuss the
possibilities for streamlining procedures and increasing
capacity at the border crossing. One idea is joint
processing of each truck, so that the Iraqis and Turks
inspect once, together, then allow the truck to pass, rather
than inspecting once on each side of the border. The details
could be worked out by the working group. Short of some
mechanism like this, we will continue to face long lines,
delays, and finger-pointing across the border in both
directions about who is responsible for the delays.



3. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
EDELMAN