BACK IN BUSINESS: FUEL DELIVERIES FROM TURKEY TO

UNCLAS ANKARA 001338 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELTN ETRD IZ PREL TU SUBJECT: BACK IN BUSINESS: FUEL DELIVERIES FROM TURKEY TO IRAQ RESUME REF: A. ANKARA ¶B. ANKARA 1214 ¶1. (C) Summary: Following Embassy's strong objections, Turkish officials appear to have rescinded the March 1 decision to stop the loading of SOMO and MNF-I fuel trucks. Turkey allowed trucks hauling JP-8 to load beginning March 5, and we confirmed March 10 that all MNF-I and SOMO fuel trucks are being allowed to load. To avoid future disruptions, Turkish officials asked for pre-notification of Iraqi decisions to close the border. They also asked for information on road security in Iraq and agreed to support an Embassy request to allow tanker trucks to carry full loads of fuel on Turkish roads. End Summary. ¶2. (C) In a series of meetings with senior MFA and Turkish Customs officials, we objected to Turkey's decision to suspend loading of SOMO and MNF-I fuel trucks because it discriminated against our trucks and could harm our efforts in Iraq and urged Turkey to rescind the order. The Turkish officials claimed that they had been obliged to take the decision because of the exceptonally long lines of trucks waiting to enter Iraq that had developed following Iraqi decisions to close the border for security reasons during the elections and Ashura. They said pre-notification of such closings would allow them to take preventative steps to prevent such conditions from developing again. Ozge inquired about possible plans to close the border for the Nevruz holday. (We later passed to Ozge information from Embassy Baghdad that it appeared that Iraq did not plan to close the borders for Nevruz.) ¶3. (C) MFA DG Oguz Ozge added that the MNF-I and SOMO trucks have been receiving expedited treatment at Habur, which has caused growing frustration among local businesses involved in border trade activities. We replied that we were not aware that our trucks received expedited treatment, and pointed out that this border trade is one of the causes of the congestion at the border, because these traders make short trips in and out of Iraq, sometimes only for the purpose of smuggling fuel. We noted that much of the delay on the Iraqi side is related to efforts to apprehend the smugglers. (Note: Ag Counselor spoke recently with an official of a Turkish food company shipping to Iraq, who told him that the company routinely transfers its load to local truck drivers in Cizre and Silopi because these local drivers are allowed preferential treatment by Turkish border officials.) ¶4. (SBU) Ozge promised to support the request by DESC for an exemption to the Turkish Transportation Ministry's policy to limit fuel trucks to filling their trucks to 70% of capacity. The policy is designed to minimize the damage to the crumbling road network feeding into the Habur border crossing, but requires DESC to hire a third more trucks to meet CENTCOM fuel requirements. ¶5. (SBU) Ozge and Customs Deputy Under Secretary Guler said that construction to expand and modernize the Turkish Customs area at Habur will commence in April but that steps would be taken to avoid disruptions of traffic. Ozge added that Turkey will proceed with the agreement reached at the November 2004 trilateral meeting to build secure truck stops along the route from Habur to Baghdad. Ozge said the GOT was looking at finance options, and was likely to use the BOT model. ¶6. (SBU) Ozge asked if U.S. forces would be in a position to share information about current security conditions on the roads between Mosul and Baghdad. He said it was his perception that security had improved in recent weeks, but would appreciate any confirmation that we could provide. ¶7. (U) Baghdad Minimize Considered. EDELMAN