THE SECOND IRAQ-TURKEY BORDER CROSSING: PROPOSAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002201

SIPDIS


STATE PASS TDA FOR D. STEIN


E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2014
TAGS: ECIN ETRD IZ PREL TU
SUBJECT: THE SECOND IRAQ-TURKEY BORDER CROSSING: PROPOSAL
PASSED TO MFA


REF: A. ANKARA 1841

B. STATE 82870


Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).



1. (C) SUMMARY. Econoff shared U.S. proposal (ref b) for a
TDA study of the Iraqi and Turkish proposals for a second
border crossing. MFA DDG Sakir Fakili said Turkey had nearly
completed its own study, but was open to all suggestions and
would respond to the TDA idea after consulting with other
agencies. On related border issues, Fakili confirmed that
Turkish officials would ensure priority for JP8 fuel
shipments and raised a concern that Kurdish officials would
be collecting the Reconstruction levy. End Summary.


TDA Study of Second Border Crossing



2. (C) Econoff met with MFA DDG for Bilateral Economic
Affairs Sakir Fakili to share the proposal to seek a
TDA-funded feasibility study to help Turkey and Iraq reach
agreement on the second border crossing. Fakili said he
appreciated any U.S. initiatives to help Turkey and Iraq
reach an agreement, adding that he needed to consult with
other interested agencies in the GOT before giving us a
response. Fakili reviewed the arguments favoring the Turkish
proposal -- emphasizing that the Iraqi proposal would mean
that trucks would continue to use the mountainous road from
Zakho to Mosul, while the Turkish proposal includes a new
road running from the border to Mosul from the west. He
suggested that if the two sides agreed on the Turkish
proposal, a number of possibilities for funding the project
would open up, including from Turkish and international
sources.



3. (C) Econoff emphasized that the U.S. does not want to
take sides. However, both sides believed their proposals
have merit and were preparing separate feasibility studies.
A TDA feasibility study would eliminate the financial burden
on both countries to prepare feasibility studies and allow
the two sides to make an objective comparison of the economic
and engineering aspects of the proposals. In this way, the
U.S. hoped to help the sides reach agreement on the technical
issues and focus on the remaining political aspects of the
problem. Fakili noted that the GOT has already conducted a
number of studies, including site visits by Turkish teams in
Iraq, and that the Turkish side has nearly completed its
study.


JP-8 Shipments



4. (C) Econoff raised concerns about the extraordinary need
for shipment of JP8 fuel from Turkey for U.S. military
operations in Iraq. Despite agreement to ensure that the
tankers carrying the JP8 were accorded top priority by
Turkish border officials, we had received reports that the
Deputy Governor in charge of the border was reluctant to do
so. Fakili confirmed that his office had checked with the
Deputy Governor's office and assured us that the GOT would
fulfill its commitment to "facilitate passage." He added
that there will be no problem getting the needed fuel
through.


Reconstruction Levy



5. (C) Fakili took the opportunity to again raise the GOT's
complaint that Kurdish officials continue to charge Turkish
truck drivers arbitrary and unsanctioned fees. He added that
he had heard that Kurdish officials would be allowed to
select who would collect the Reconstruction levy, which began
April 15. Econoff responded that the Reconstruction Levy was
initiated to provide Iraq's central government with funding
for reconstruction. It is our understanding that the fees
will be collected by officers of the Iraqi Customs Service,
who have been selected, trained and paid by the Central
government and that all revenues collected will go to
Baghdad.



6. (U) MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.
EDELMAN