TURKEY REQUESTS INFORMATION ON USG FUEL DELIVERIES

UNCLAS ANKARA 002527

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FOR EUR/SE AND L/EUR - KAREN JOHNSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EPET ETRD IZ PREL TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY REQUESTS INFORMATION ON USG FUEL DELIVERIES
TO IRAQ FOR PARLIAMENTARY INVESTIGATION OF SMUGGLING

Sensitive But Unclassified.


1. (U) This is an action request. See para 3.


2. (SBU) Embassy received a diplomatic note May 3 requesting
information on U.S. purchases of refined products in Turkey
for delivery to Iraq during the period May 2003 through April

2005. Para 4 contains text of diplomatic note. The
information is being requested by a parliamentary committee
investigating cross-border smuggling in the southeast region
of Turkey. Members of the committee recently visited the
Habur Gate border crossing with Iraq, and according to the
Turkish daily Cumhuriyet, said the border is a "sieve,"
charging that smuggling accounts for $150 million per year
and some Turkish oil firms and members of Parliament may be
involved. Action Request:


3. (U) Action Request: Post requests Department
instructions on whether to accommodate the Turkish request.
Embassy is collecting the requested information but will
await instructions before passing to MFA.


4. (SBU) Text of diplomatic note:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey
presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States
of America, and has the honor to inform that an inquiry
committee of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of
Turkey investigating the detrimental effects caused by the
illicit trafficking of petroleum to the economy, human life
and environment and the measures to be determined in this
regard, has requested information from the U.S. Defense
Energy Support Centre related to the quantity of fuel
products shipped from Turkey to Iraq between May 2003 and 1st
April 2005, including a listing of supplier/transmitter
companies on a yearly basis. (Standard Closing.) Ankara,
2nd May 2005. End text.

Baghdad Minimize Considered.
EDELMAN