Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ANKARA7685
2003-12-16 06:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY RAISES CONCERN ABOUT

Tags:  ECIN ENRG ETRD IZ PREL TU 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 007685 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2013
TAGS: ECIN ENRG ETRD IZ PREL TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY RAISES CONCERN ABOUT
SECURITY FOR TRUCK DELIVERIES TO IRAQ

REF: A. A) ANKARA 7452

B. B) ANKARA 07444


Classified by Econ Counselor Scot Marciel, for reasons 1.5
(b) and (d).


C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 007685

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2013
TAGS: ECIN ENRG ETRD IZ PREL TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY RAISES CONCERN ABOUT
SECURITY FOR TRUCK DELIVERIES TO IRAQ

REF: A. A) ANKARA 7452

B. B) ANKARA 07444


Classified by Econ Counselor Scot Marciel, for reasons 1.5
(b) and (d).



1. (C) SUMMARY: Akif Ayhan, MFA Head of Department for
Economics, raised the Ministry's concern about security for
Turkish truck drivers in Iraq and emphasized that the problem
could lead to more truckers quitting or even another
truckers' strike. Ayhan said U.S. military security for
truck convoys was very important to the truckers, but they
are objecting to being ordered to make deliveries to remote
locations. (This discussion occurred prior to the events of
the weekend of December 13-14, which resulted in the death of
at least one Turkish driver.) END SUMMARY.



2. (C) Akif Ayhan, MFA Economics Department, told Econoff
December 12 that Turkish truckers bringing goods to Iraq
continue to complain that they are subject to unacceptable
risks, and noted that the lack of security was one of the
reasons for the recent truckers' strike (ref a). Ayhan added
that the government is worried, that unless the truckers'
concerns are allayed, many may choose to quit the deliveries
or even organize another strike. He said that the commitment
of the 101st in northern Iraq to provide security for the
trucks was very important and emphasized that truckers
expected protection along the entire route in and out of
Iraq. Ayhan said the government has been working with
Turkish truckers' associations to explain the situation in
Iraq and to encourage the drivers to form convoys to make the
security job easier for the U.S. military escorts.



3. (SBU) A growing concern, according to Ayhan, is that
truckers are frequently ordered to make deliveries to remote
locations beyond the major tank farms in Mosul, Kirkuk and
Dohuk, where they cannot be adequately protected. Ayhan
urged that this should not be considered the responsibility
of the Turkish drivers. Turkish convoys should be required
to deliver to central depots or tank farms only; final
delivery to substations of retail outlets should be the
responsibility of SOMO or domestic companies. Ayhan
questioned whether the contracts specified this requirement,
but added that even if this is clearly in the contracts,
truckers might refuse to continue deliveries to Iraq if this
is considered part of the job.



4. (C) Ayhan added that the GOT was pleased that weekly
coordination talks have commenced at the border. He said
that this is the appropriate venue to discuss implementation
of recent agreements between Turkey and Iraq. However, he
argued that certain issues required the direct control of
central government authorities. For example, Iraqi
authorities at the border impose discretionary fee increases,
which anger drivers and cause disruptions at the border. He
added his hope that expected Iraqis customs legislation would
clearly settle this issue. He also objected to the use of
'Kurdistan' seals by Iraqi border officials.



5. (SBU) Econoff raised the continuing delays at Habur Gate
and said that we expected both sides to live up to their
commitment as part of the bilateral agreement of December 2
(ref b) to increase processing to 1,850 trucks per day.
Ayhan confirmed that Turkey is committed to improving
processing, adding that Turkey wanted to move forward with
construction of the second crossing. He quickly pointed out
that his government was not making any connection between the
two issues.



6. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
EDELMAN