TURKEY'S RENEWED INTEREST IN SECOND BORDER

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001283

SIPDIS

E.O.12958: DECL: 03/08/2015
TAGS: ELTN ETRD IZ PREL TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY'S RENEWED INTEREST IN SECOND BORDER
CROSSING WITH IRAQ

REFS: A. 2005 ANKARA 1214


B. 2004 ANKARA 2560

C. 2004 ANKARA 2983

D. 2004 CPA BAGHDAD 444

Classified By: Ambassador for reasons 1.4 b & d.


1. (C) Summary: Turkish officials have renewed their calls
for a second border crossing to Iraq. They have asked the
USG to help persuade Iraqi officials to agree on a second
border gate and inquired about the U.S. offer of 2004 to fund
a TDA feasibility study of the border options. Post
recommends that we work with the Turks and Iraqis to promote
progress on this issue, including in conjunction with the
already planned visit by TDA in March. End Summary.


2. (C) MFA Under Secretary Ali Tuygan asked Ambassador
Edelman March 4 about the U.S. offer of 2004 to finance a TDA
feasibility study of a second border gate with Iraq. Tuygan
said Turkey remained interested in the proposal but had never
received an answer from the U.S. Ambassador Edelman told
Tuygan that Turkish officials told us in May 2004 that Turkey
was not interested in doing the study. (Note: Then MFA DG
Sakir Fakili told us May 5, 2004, (ref b) that the study was
unnecessary because Turkey had already done a feasibility
study. He clarified the GOT position May 26 (ref c) by
adding that Turkey would agree to a study but on the
condition that TDA study the Turkish proposal only.)


3. (C) On March 8, MFA DG for Economic Affairs Oguz Ozge
(who assumed this position in December 2004 after a four-year
post in Malaysia) told Econ Counselor that Turkey was
increasingly concerned that the Habur Gate crossing to Iraq
was over-burdened and could no longer handle the increasing
volume of traffic. Ozge accompanied Trade Minister Tuzmen
and Interior Minister Aksu, when they visited the border
region on February 27. Ozge said that Ankara believes there
should be "several border gates" to accommodate the expected
growth of Turkish and international trade with Iraq. Unlike
what Fakili told us in May, Ozge said Ankara was not wedded
to a specific location. However, the GOT did not see a
rationale for a plan that would result in a second gate close
to the Habur Gate that used the same road through Zakho into
Iraq. Ozge passed us an Aide-Memoire laying out Turkey's
position. Post will e-mail a copy to EUR/SE and Embassy
Baghdad. Ozge asked the U.S. to help persuade Iraqi
officials to come to an agreement on a second border
crossing. Ozge continued that Turkey would be happy to talk
to TDA officials about a feasibility study that explores the
pros and cons of several borders crossing with Iraq.


4. (C) Comment: Post recommends that we pursue Ankara's
renewed interest in the TDA study. We request that TDA
Regional Director for Europe and Eurasia Dan Stein be
prepared to discuss this subject with Turkish officials when
he visits Ankara March 26-27. Such a TDA study should
evaluate several options for a second border crossing,
including but not limited to the Turkish proposal. In order
to proceed, it will also be necessary to gain Baghdad's
approval. We suggest that Embassy Baghdad raise this subject
with Iraqi interlocutors as a possible item for discussions
during or on the margins of the upcoming trilateral and
bilateral meetings on trucker security.


5. Baghdad Minimize Considered.
EDELMAN