TURKEY SUSPENDS SOMO SUSTAINMENT FUEL LOADING

UNCLAS ANKARA 001105 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD IZ MARR PREL TU SUBJECT: TURKEY SUSPENDS SOMO SUSTAINMENT FUEL LOADING Sensitive But Unclassified. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Turkish officials decided to cease loading SOMO fuels and the coalition fuels loaded at three sites in Turkey as a measure to reduce the estimated 100 KM plus backlog of trucks in Turkey. An MFA official estimated that the decision would be in effect for four to five days. He added that Iraqi border officials pledged to increase their intake of trucks by about 300 per day to help reduce the backlog. End Summary, ¶2. (SBU) According the GoT subgovernor in charge of the Habur gate, Savas Unlu, commercial fuel suppliers in Mersin and Iskenderun on March 1 were ordered to cease loading SOMO and coalition fuels (JP-8, MOGAS and diesel) at those three sites until the estimated 100 KM plus backlog in Turkey declines. He told AMCON Adana PO the burden of improving the situation was on "those officials on the other side." (Note: Iraqi officials running the Ibrahim Khalil gate opposite Turkey,s Habur Gate. End Note.) He claimed that, with recently increased Turkish staffing which has increased Turkish ability to repatriate northbound traffic and reduce the many months long 60-70 KM running backlog in Iraq, the Habur gate (southbound) could soon process up to 2,300 vehicles daily (Note: from the usual 1200-1300 daily. End Note.) "with better coordination from those at the other side of the bridge." ¶3. (SBU) Econoff contacted MFA Department Head Atilay Ersan, who was unaware of the decision. He later reported that the measure had been agreed to at the March 2 weekly border coordination meeting between Turkish and Iraqi border officials. U.S. military officers who attended the meeting confirmed that Turkish officials announced the plan to suspend fuel loadings and that Iraqi officials agreed to the plan. Adana PO confirmed that contractors were ordered by Turkish government officials to cease loading SOMO and sustainment trucks. ¶4. (SBU) Ersan said Turkish border officials reported that the line of trucks waiting in Turkey had reached 110 km and that the suspension of SOMO and sustainment fuel loadings would last four to five days. He added that Iraqi officials promised to increase the number of trucks they could take to 1,800-2,000 per day. Econoff responded that the Turkish decision discriminates against SOMO and sustainment trucks, which make up about half of the daily traffic at the border, and could cause shortages in Iraq. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: This seems to be a rash, uncoordinated decision. It comes after numerous newspaper and TV reports of the truck backlog in Turkey and just days after the Ministers of Trade and Interior visited the border region. Embassy will continue to pursue this issue with Ankara interlocutors to ensure sustainment supplies receive priority. End Comment. ¶6. (U) Baghdad Minimize Considered. EDELMAN