Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA4084
2006-07-12 15:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
SOME FUEL TRUCKS MOVING AGAIN FROM TURKEY TO IRAQ
how-toVZCZCXRO6829 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHAK #4084 1931541 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 121541Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7224 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RUEKDAI/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA// IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/425ABS IZMIR TU//CC// IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU IMMEDIATE RUEPGAB/MNF-I C2X BAGHDAD IZ IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004084
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2016
TAGS: PREL MOPS ENRG ETRD TU IZ
SUBJECT: SOME FUEL TRUCKS MOVING AGAIN FROM TURKEY TO IRAQ
REF: ANKARA 4000
Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Carl Siebentritt for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004084
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2016
TAGS: PREL MOPS ENRG ETRD TU IZ
SUBJECT: SOME FUEL TRUCKS MOVING AGAIN FROM TURKEY TO IRAQ
REF: ANKARA 4000
Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Carl Siebentritt for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).
1. (C) Summary: We understand from U.S. military channels
that, as of late in the day July 12, fuel tankers are once
again moving from Turkey into Iraq over the Habur Gate. Also
on July 12, Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade (UFT) Director
General of Agreements Sevket Ilgac explained to us the
current situation at Habur and assured us the GOT is working
hard to restart the flow of fuel tankers to Iraq. He noted,
however, that even though the UFT had ordered Customs to once
again process fuel trucks, some drivers were refusing to go
through Customs for fear of being caught for siphoning off
part of their loads for sale on the black market. Ilgac
emphasized that Customs authorities would not allow these
drivers to cross the border but are ready and willing to
expedite sustainment tankers with full legal loads. End
Summary.
2. (SBU) U.S. military at the Turkey-Iraq border informed us
late on July 12 that fuel trucks are finally moving once
again over the Habur Gate from Turkey into Iraq (reftel). We
are still working to ascertain how many of these trucks are
carrying coalition sustainment fuel versus humanitarian
(SOMO) fuel for the Iraqi people.
3. (C) Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade (UFT) Director
General of Agreements Sevket Ilgac told us July 12 that there
are around 1,000 tankers parked near the gate waiting to go
to Iraq and approximately twenty percent of these trucks are
carrying Coalition sustainment fuel. He assured us that
Turkish authorities had ordered Customs officials at Habur on
July 10 to allow 350 fuel tankers per day to cross the
border; of these 80 tankers would be sustainment, the rest
SOMO. Ilgac emphasized that four lanes had been designated
specifically for sustainment tankers and a fifth lane could
be opened if needed.
4. (C) Unfortunately, Ilgac told us, corruption is a large
problem at the border crossing and many drivers sell off part
of their fuel in Turkey and replace the missing fuel with
water. He explained that many truck drivers are apparently
refusing to approach the Customs area for fear of getting
caught participating in this practice. In addition, corrupt
drivers may be pressuring honest ones not to approach the
Customs area. (Comment: We understand that there are tighter
control on sustainment trucks -- such as Customs seals at the
loading point in Turkey and checks in Iraq -- to ensure that
drivers carrying these products are not stealing. We suspect
most fuel theft is from SOMO trucks. End Comment.) Ilgac
emphasized to us that the UFT and Customs authorities would
be firm in combating smuggling and said that Customs would
not clear tankers with obviously missing product.
5. (C) Ilgac assured us however that Customs authorities are
under orders to use all legal means to expedite sustainment
fuel tankers through the crossing and that recently loaded
tankers should have no problems. He added that authorities
should be able to process up to 400 tankers (300 for SOMO and
100 for us) through the gate in a matter of days. He
concluded by saying that the onus is on fuel contractors to
recognize that fuel diversion will no longer be tolerated and
to start sending legal tankers to Customs clearance at Habur.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2016
TAGS: PREL MOPS ENRG ETRD TU IZ
SUBJECT: SOME FUEL TRUCKS MOVING AGAIN FROM TURKEY TO IRAQ
REF: ANKARA 4000
Classified By: Pol-Mil Counselor Carl Siebentritt for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).
1. (C) Summary: We understand from U.S. military channels
that, as of late in the day July 12, fuel tankers are once
again moving from Turkey into Iraq over the Habur Gate. Also
on July 12, Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade (UFT) Director
General of Agreements Sevket Ilgac explained to us the
current situation at Habur and assured us the GOT is working
hard to restart the flow of fuel tankers to Iraq. He noted,
however, that even though the UFT had ordered Customs to once
again process fuel trucks, some drivers were refusing to go
through Customs for fear of being caught for siphoning off
part of their loads for sale on the black market. Ilgac
emphasized that Customs authorities would not allow these
drivers to cross the border but are ready and willing to
expedite sustainment tankers with full legal loads. End
Summary.
2. (SBU) U.S. military at the Turkey-Iraq border informed us
late on July 12 that fuel trucks are finally moving once
again over the Habur Gate from Turkey into Iraq (reftel). We
are still working to ascertain how many of these trucks are
carrying coalition sustainment fuel versus humanitarian
(SOMO) fuel for the Iraqi people.
3. (C) Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade (UFT) Director
General of Agreements Sevket Ilgac told us July 12 that there
are around 1,000 tankers parked near the gate waiting to go
to Iraq and approximately twenty percent of these trucks are
carrying Coalition sustainment fuel. He assured us that
Turkish authorities had ordered Customs officials at Habur on
July 10 to allow 350 fuel tankers per day to cross the
border; of these 80 tankers would be sustainment, the rest
SOMO. Ilgac emphasized that four lanes had been designated
specifically for sustainment tankers and a fifth lane could
be opened if needed.
4. (C) Unfortunately, Ilgac told us, corruption is a large
problem at the border crossing and many drivers sell off part
of their fuel in Turkey and replace the missing fuel with
water. He explained that many truck drivers are apparently
refusing to approach the Customs area for fear of getting
caught participating in this practice. In addition, corrupt
drivers may be pressuring honest ones not to approach the
Customs area. (Comment: We understand that there are tighter
control on sustainment trucks -- such as Customs seals at the
loading point in Turkey and checks in Iraq -- to ensure that
drivers carrying these products are not stealing. We suspect
most fuel theft is from SOMO trucks. End Comment.) Ilgac
emphasized to us that the UFT and Customs authorities would
be firm in combating smuggling and said that Customs would
not clear tankers with obviously missing product.
5. (C) Ilgac assured us however that Customs authorities are
under orders to use all legal means to expedite sustainment
fuel tankers through the crossing and that recently loaded
tankers should have no problems. He added that authorities
should be able to process up to 400 tankers (300 for SOMO and
100 for us) through the gate in a matter of days. He
concluded by saying that the onus is on fuel contractors to
recognize that fuel diversion will no longer be tolerated and
to start sending legal tankers to Customs clearance at Habur.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON