MFA FINAL REPORT OF TRILATERAL (TURKEY, IRAQ,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 006798

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2014
TAGS: ETRD IZ PREL PTER TU
SUBJECT: MFA FINAL REPORT OF TRILATERAL (TURKEY, IRAQ,
U.S.) MEETING ON TRUCKER SECURITY

REF: ANKARA 06675

Classified By: DCM Robert Deutsch for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This is an action request for MNF-I (via CENTCOM and
Embassy Baghdad). Please see para 6.


2. (C) MFA gave embassy December 3 the text of the final
report of the November 30 Trilateral Meeting to Improve
Security for Turkish Truckers in Iraq. The text (para 7)
reflects some agreements or requests that were reached
after the draft text was completed and some additional
points.


3. (C) The first page of the final report records the
agreements reached by the Turks and Iraqis. There are only
minor substantive changes from the draft paper. The Turks
dropped the reference to establishing temporary "shifting
locations," where Turkish drivers can transfer their
cargoes for delivery in Iraq by Iraqi trucks and drivers.
The final paper also includes a reference to establishing
stations for sharing security information. This point was
also added in the list of requests for MNF-I.


4. (C) The second page includes Turkey's requests to MNF-I
to improve and extend security provided by MNF-I. In
addition to the requests included in the draft text, the
final paper adds several points that were also reported in
reftel: MNF-I escorts for trucks entering and leaving
Iraq; cooperation to repatriate Turkish drivers killed or
wounded in Iraq; and provision of insurance or other
compensation for death or damage to trucks in Iraq. The
Turks added three new requests to the paper: 1) that MNF-I
provide security escorts for international humanitarian
assistance (this likely is an indirect reference to
humanitarian missions conducted by the Turkish Red Crescent
in Iraq); that MNF-I designate a liaison officer who will
be available 24 hours to coordinate emergency cases; and 3)
that MNF-I set up stations to provide current security and
convoy information to drivers.


5. (C) Some of Turkey,s requests of MNF-I are ambiguous.
For example, we do not know what "efficient and more numerous
protection teams" really means. Nor is it clear what
"coordination and cooperation in the indemnification of
damages and casualties with Turkish lorries and drivers"
means. We know the Turks are concerned that the families of
Turkish truck drivers killed in Iraq are not adequately
compensated for their loss, but at the same time USG
contracts specifically make insurance the responsibility of
the contractor.


6. (C) Action request for MNF-I: Although Colonel Williams,
who represented MNF-I at the November 30 meeting, responded
fully to the Turks requests, we recommend that MNF-I be
prepared to reiterate those points and respond to the
requests added by the Turks to the text of the final report
at the next trucker security meeting (not yet scheduled).


7. (C) Text of final report:

Page 1

THE TRIPARTITE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY FORUM
(30th November, Ankara)
The Mutually Agreed Points on
Trade and Transportation Security between Turkey and Iraq

During the discussions at the Tripartite Transportation
Security Forum meeting held on 30th November 2004 in
Ankara, regarding the security issues related to the
transportation from Turkey to Iraq and vice versa, the
following points were mutually agreed upon by the Turkish
and Iraqi sides:

- Parking and accommodation facilities are to be identified
and provided by the Iraqi side for the benefit of Turkish
trucks carrying goods to Iraq. (There is already a
joint-venture initiative between the Iraqi Land
Transportation Company and a Turkish firm. This
joint-venture initiative can also undertake other projects
of parking and accommodation facilities to be built);

- Increasing checkpoints, escorting and patrolling
throughout various route segments. Protection is needed
along the whole route, as well as for the parking and
accommodation spaces;

- Setting up a network of communications by satellite for
the monitoring of incoming and outgoing trucks from Iraq;
- Jointly facilitating transportation by road and railway
through Syria;
- Stations will be constituted at locations required, to
facilitate the flow of information concerning the
surveillance of the journey of Turkish convoys; including
information sharing about the security situation on the
itinerary before departure, as well as during the whole
trip;
- For a smooth implementation of the afore-mentioned
measures, a task force will be created to follow up the
execution of the necessary prospective arrangements.
Representatives at the task force should be assigned by the
Turkish and Iraqi sides.

- The two sides shall designate liaison officers who will
have all-time accessible communication facilities at their
disposal, with a view to remaining in contact for emergency
cases;

- The implementation process for the previously cited
measures should commence not later than a fortnight from
the date of this meeting of the Forum.

- A list of points submitted as requests to the MNF for
implementation with regard to reinforcing the security
measures vis--vis the Turkish transporters in Iraq is
attached as an annex.

Page 2

THE TRIPARTITE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY FORUM
(30th November 2004, Ankara)
REQUEST FROM THE MNF (USA)

During the discussions at the Tripartite Transportation
Security Forum meeting held on November 30th 2004, in
Ankara, on the security issues related to the
transportation from Turkey to Iraq and vice versa, the
following points were submitted as requests to the MNF for
implementation:

- Reinforcement of military escorts,

- More troops and accompanying vehicles, formation of
larger and stronger security platforms,

- Airborne support,

- A reduced number of Turkish trucks in a single convoy,

- Efficient and more numerous protection teams,

- Extending the protection on the route segments and
increasing check-points,

- Setting up of stations at locations required, to
facilitate the flow of information concerning the
surveillance of the journey of Turkish convoys; including
information sharing about the security situation on the
itinerary before departure, as well as during the whole
trip.

- Provision of the same level of security to incoming and
outgoing trucks,

- Ensuring a thorough coverage of safety to international
humanitarian assistance as provided for MNF supplies,

- Immediate and effective cooperation for the repatriation
of the bodies of deceased/wounded Turkish drivers
(registration, reporting and medical assistance),

- Coordination and cooperation in the indemnification of
damages and casualties with Turkish lorries and drivers.

- Designation of liaison officers, who will have all-time
accessible communication facilities at their disposal, with
a view to remaining in contact for emergency cases.

END TEXT


8. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
EDELMAN