Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ANKARA4166
2005-07-18 15:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

TURKEY AND IRAQ COOPERATE ON TRUCKER SECURITY,

Tags:  ECIN ETRD IZ PREL TU 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 004166 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2015
TAGS: ECIN ETRD IZ PREL TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY AND IRAQ COOPERATE ON TRUCKER SECURITY,
DISCUSS SECOND BORDER CROSSING

Classified By: Acting Economic Counselor Andrew Snow for reasons
1.4(b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 004166

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2015
TAGS: ECIN ETRD IZ PREL TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY AND IRAQ COOPERATE ON TRUCKER SECURITY,
DISCUSS SECOND BORDER CROSSING

Classified By: Acting Economic Counselor Andrew Snow for reasons
1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Turkey and Iraq continue to work to
improve the safety for Turkish drivers who transport large
volumes of refined products and other goods into Iraq.
Trucker deaths have fallen sharply in 2005. On June 22-23
Turkish and Iraqi officials met in Ankara to discuss
transportation security, including improved communications
and the introduction in Turkey of insurance for losses by
truckers in Iraq. The two sides will meet July 26 to
discuss the deadlock over the second border gate, but
Turkish officials told us their position has not changed.
Turkish fuel supplies for SOMO are in full swing again
after SOMO made payments of $603 million against its
arrears. End Summary.

Transportation Security
--------------


2. (C) Acting Econ Counselor and Econoff met with MFA DDG
for
Bilateral Economic Relations Mehmet Gucuk and Section Head
for Iraq Sedef Yavuzalp to discuss ongoing Turkish-Iraqi
progress on economic issues. The two sides are holding a
series of meetings on consular issues, transportation
security and the second border crossing. On June 22-23, the
two sides followed up for the second time to the November
2004 trilateral (U.S.-Turkey-Iraq) Forum on Transportation
Security. This second meeting focused on the improvement
in security (Turkish deaths in Iraq have declined
dramatically) and discussed joint proposals for trucker
rest areas and improved communication. The transportation
security working group meeting was headed on the Turkish
side by Mehmet Gucuk and on the Iraqi side by Iraqi
Ambassador Sabah Omran. A translation of the agreed minutes
will be faxed to EUR/SE. .

-- The two sides noted the recent decline in deaths among
Turkish drivers. Gucuk noted that trucker deaths in Iraq
increased from 8 in 2003, 21 in the first six months of
2004, to 46 in the second half of 2004, before declining to
only 4 in the first half of 2005. (The exact date when 19
other drivers were killed has not been determined.)

-- The Turkish side reported that it was no longer
interested in the proposal agreed to at the first bilateral

meeting to construct secure truck stops along the routes in
Iraq. Gucuk explained that Turkish trucking associations
have raised concerns about whether the facilities could be
constructed in time to help the near-term security problem,
and many truckers voiced a concern that the secure truck
stops would concentrate the trucks and therefore attract
more attacks. Iraqi Ambassador Omran told us that the
Iraqi side was disappointed in Turkey's decision to pull
out of the project.

-- Both sides discussed other security enhancements,
including a Turkish request that Iraqi authorities increase
the number of security posts along the two routes (through
Mosul and Erbil) into Iraq. They also proposed that the
two countries consider establishing a truck tracking
system. (Note: Econoff has been working with Unisys,
which provides a RF tracking system for the U.S. Army, to
make a presentation to Turkish officials.)

-- Gucuk reported that the Turkish government and Turkish
insurance companies are nearing agreement on issuing
insurance policies to cover damages to Turkish trucks while
in Iraq. The Turkish side asked for Iraqi cooperation to
help the drivers document their damages in Iraq.

-- The Iraqi side asked Turkish officials for badly-needed
communication gear (walkie-talkies) for the soldiers
providing protection for truck convoys. Gucuk was somewhat
surprised that the Iraqi security forces did not have even
simple communications equipment. The MFA has passed this
request to the Turkish Armed Forces for evaluation but is
skeptical about the idea of donating communication equipment
without dealing with issues like training, maintenance, and
integration with the Iraqis, existing equipment.

Second Border Crossing
--------------


3. (C) Gucuk said the two sides would meet July 26 to
continue
heretofore deadlocked discussions on
the second border crossing. He
confirmed that Turkey's position has not changed. The GOT
still objects to any proposal that would mean building a
second crossing that would funnel the traffic through the
single route through Zakho. He added that the GOT is
considering a somewhat different crossing point, closer to
the current Habur Gate than their last proposal, which could
accommodate a crossing for vehicles and for trains. He noted
that the Turkish proposal, which includes a separate road
network into Iraq west of Habur, was designed to reduce
Barzani's control over traffic entering Iraq, although he
admitted the proposed route would still pass through a
portion of KDP-controlled territory. He repeated the offer
to
guarantee that the KDP would continue to receive a certain
level of revenue. He said the Iraqi position on the second
border crossing is controlled by Barzani, despite it being
in the central government,s interest to get more of the
revenue, and he claimed that some Iraqi officials in
Baghdad have expressed their frustration with Barzani's
unwillingness to compromise.
Reduction in SOMO arrears
--------------


4. (U) Gucuk reported that SOMO's arrears to Turkish
companies supplying Iraq with refined products has declined
significantly and the Turkish companies have resumed
deliveries. He said SOMO made three payments totaling $603
million, reducing the arrears to about $200 million.


5. (SBU) Comment: Bilateral talks on transportation
security are an indication of the gradual normalization
between Turkey and the new Iraqi government. One factor
that has helped the progress in this area is the agreement
of both sides to move the more difficult discussion of a
second border crossing to a different forum. Turkish
officials tell us that they still expect to hold a second
trilateral transportation security meeting with U.S.
involvement, but there are currently no plans to hold one
in the near future.

Baghdad minimize considered.

MCELDOWNEY