FOLLOW-UP MEETING WITH TURKISH MFA ON TRUCKER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 004600 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2014 TAGS: PREL PTER MOPS TU IZ SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP MEETING WITH TURKISH MFA ON TRUCKER SECURITY ISSUE REF: A. ANKARA 4529 AND PREVIOUS ¶B. EUR/SE EMAIL TO EMB ANKARA 08-13-2004 (NOTAL) Classified By: DCM Robert S. Deutsch for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Following MFA Deputy U/S Ilkin calling in the DCM (ref a),MFA Deputy Director General Sakir Fakili held a preliminary follow-up meeting with emboffs Aug. 13. Fakili stressed the importance of secure transfer and offload facilities, enhanced convoy security, and insurance assistance. He proposed that we attend a larger meeting of MFA and the major trucking companies and concerned export associations. MFA officials are unhappy about Iraqi customs officials and regulations, though these are more related to the economic interests of the truckers, not their security. The Turks plan to raise trucker security with IIG President al-Yawar during his Aug. 16-17 visit to Ankara. End summary. ¶2. (C) MFA Deputy Director General for Bilateral Economic Relations Sakir Fakili called in Acting EconCouns and PolMilOff Aug. 13 to discuss GOT proposals to improve the security situation for Turkish truckers in Iraq (ref A). Fakili noted that he understood that we did not yet have guidance from Washington on the Turkish non-paper on this subject that MFA Deputy Under Secretary Ilkin had handed the DCM on Aug. 11 (see ref a). As Ilkin's designated POC to the Embassy on trucker security, Fakili said he simply wanted us to meet him and his staff and begin to engage in a dialogue on this matter. ¶3. (C) Fakili said that with the Aug. 2 murder of Turkish hostage Murat Yuce in Iraq and the continuing press coverage of kidnappings and attacks on Turkish truckers, this had become a "humanitarian issue" for the GOT. He went over what he considered to be three primary steps that Turkey, the U.S., and/or the Iraqis might do to provide for a more secure environment: --the establishment of secure "transfer places" for offloading, layover, and maintenance of Turkish trucks. He identified Zahko and the already-established fuel offloading site 10 km north of Mosul as possible sites. He said that the major Turkish trucking associations, UND (International Transporters Association) and RODER, could play a role in financing these sites. --reinforcement of convoy protection by coalition forces. Fakili brought out the oft-repeated Turkish claim that coalition convoy security consists of only one vehicle driving far ahead of the convoy. Fakili passed on Turkish truckers, request that (unless this is the case already) convoy protection vehicles travel behind or to the side of their trucks. --provision of insurance assistance for Turkish drivers and companies. Fakili said that firms usually cannot accurately document losses due to terrorism in Iraq, and they also complain that premiums are now prohibitive. He noted that the MFA has approached Turkish insurance companies, requesting that the companies study the possibility of offering truckers insurance against terrorism in Iraq. ¶4. (C) Fakili reported that the MFA has met repeatedly over the past two weeks with the major trucking company associations (UND and RODER) and major export associations to discuss their concerns and possible solutions. Fakili asked that emboffs consider attending such a meeting to hear directly from the associations. He added that perhaps an outcome of such a meeting could be an MOU between the USG, the GOT, and the IIG. While expressing concerns about participating in a single, large meeting of this type, emboffs said we would take this back for discussion, and that we would continue to seek Washington's and Embassy Baghdad's input. We also pointed out that the security issue was of course one for the Iraqis as well. Fakili took the point, noting that of course this was a major topic for President al-Yawar's visit to Ankara Aug. 16-17. ¶5. (C) Acting EconCouns responded that the USG took the issue of security for Turkish truckers very seriously, but highlighted the difficulty for the coalition to reinforce trucking convoys in the context of the overall security environment in Iraq. He noted the difficulty of dealing with this complex problem from Ankara, but repeated our willingness to work with the GOT and IIG on this matter. PolMilOff asked some specific questions regarding recent attacks: Where precisely have the Turkish truckers been attacked? Were the trucks in coalition-protected convoys at the time and, if so, under what circumstances? Fakili admitted that he did not have this information at hand but thought the truckers' associations might have more detailed information. ¶6. (C) Fakili responded that he understood the need to work with the Iraqis, but seemed skeptical about the Iraqi authorities' ability to handle the issue at hand. He claimed that Turkey is now number three (behind the U.S. and UK) on the list of countries who have lost people in Iraq, with 21 deaths and 25-30 unaccounted for. Akif Ayhan, MFA's Head of Desk for Bilateral Economic Affairs (Fakili's subordinate), cited reports that Iraqi police had actually handed over at least one Turkish trucker to the insurgents. Fakili reported that Turkish-Iraqi trade so far in 2004 had exceeded the US$ one billion estimated for all of 2003; the financial benefit for Turkish truckers, who can make US$ 1000 for three trips to Iraq per month, was important. ¶7. (C) Ayhan then launched into a critique of the Iraqi administration of the border, complaining that Iraq was about to impose a "severe" limitation on the amount of fuel Turkish trucks may carry from Iraq back into Turkey. (Note: Turkish truckers are widely reported to be bringing fuel into Iraq under coalition contract, but then buying cheap Iraqi fuel for re-sale in Turkey. In fact, this trade increases Turkish truckers' risk profile, since they reportedly leave convoy protection to obtain the Iraqi fuel. End note.) Ayhan also accused Kurdish IIG customs officials of imposing arbitrary fees and fines on Turkish truckers; he claimed that these officials do not enforce Iraqi federal law, only their own wishes. He added that the weekly border meetings among IIG, GOT, and coalition personnel are "insufficient." We asked Ayhan if these issues were really security-related, and Fakili brought the subject back to security, closing the meeting by again requesting us to attend a larger meeting with MFA and the trucking and export associations. ¶8. (C) Comment: The Turks are anxious to prove to their public and the press that they are serious about trucker security, but post notes that both commercial and coalition traffic from Turkey into Iraq remains at the same level as before the Aug. 2 Yuce murder and the UND's subsequent call for a ban on trucking in support of the coalition. The economic incentives Fakili himself cited in para. six are simply too strong for the Turks to turn off the tap, but an increase in violence against Turks in Iraq could affect public opinion sufficiently to increase the pressure on the GOT, or could convince a significant number of truckers that the risks outweigh the gain. Post is not inclined to agree to MFA's request to attend a large group meeting in Ankara on this subject, but emboffs could meet with the parties concerned one-on-one. We cannot imagine what purpose the suggestion of an MOU would serve. ¶9. (C) Post awaits the Department's guidance in responding to the Turkish non-paper in ref A. We suggest it is important to help the GOT appear to be trying to address the risks of working in Iraq. Any measures to improve security for Turkish truckers would help assuage Turkish public opinion and maintain GOT support for trucking and contracting into Iraq. (Note: Reports reached Ankara Aug. 16 of the kidnapping of two more Turkish drivers in Iraq engaged in delivering water for the USG. End note.) End comment. ¶10. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. EDELMAN