EVOLVING IRAQ-KUWAIT BORDER CROSSING PROCEDURES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 004638

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PBTS KU IZ
SUBJECT: EVOLVING IRAQ-KUWAIT BORDER CROSSING PROCEDURES

REF: KUWAIT 4173

Classified By: DCM Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C/NF) Summary. On December 5, Kuwait Ministry of
Interior (MOI) and United States Coalition Forces Land
Component Command (CFLCC) officials accompanied by Emboff met
and discussed Kuwait-Iraq border crossing issues arising from
recently altered MOI procedures. The MOI began using new
procedures on November 17 in the wake of a high profile
convoy hijacking and the kidnapping of private security
personnel. The parties agreed to establish a working group
to reach a standard operating procedure (SOP) regarding use
of Navistar, the CFLCC controlled border crossing. The
working group also agreed to address SOP's for operation of
the new Coalition border crossing, K-Crossing, before it
begins operation in February or March 2007. Given the the
critical importance to OIF of the land link between Kuwait
and Iraq, the Embassy will continue to work closely with U.S.
military and GOK officials to ensure issues are resolved
quickly. End Summary.


2. (U) On December 5, Kuwait MOI and Customs representatives
met with CFLCC, Embassy, and Army Support Group Kuwait
(ASG-K) representatives to discuss a range of border issues
relating to military and civilian crossings of the
Iraq-Kuwait border. The meeting was prompted by recently
changed border crossing requirements imposed by MOI border
officials following the hijacking of a private convoy and
kidnapping of American and European private security
contractors just north of the Kuwait-Iraq border near Safwan,
Iraq.


3. (C/NF) Following that incident, the GOK began requiring
that convoys using private security escorts use the nearby
commercial border crossing at Abdaly, whether carrying
military or non-military supplies. The central issue at the
meeting was what procedures applied to private convoys
carrying goods under military contract and seeking to use the
Navistar Coalition Crossing. MOI also raised the question of
what procedures applied to large private contractors that
have both military and non-military contracts. The MOI
concern is that some of these contractors might be using
Navistar for its non-military contract trips, thus avoiding
Kuwaiti customs and immigration controls. (Note: An issue of
significance that was not discussed was whether private
contractors delivering fuel to non-MNF-I customers would be
able to continue using Navistar under a current policy which
allows exceptions to the general "military use only" policy
if the cargo is deemed "in support of the military effort."
End note.)


4. (C/NF) It was agreed that a working group (consisting of
representatives from GOK Immigration, Customs and Border
Security and from the U.S. Area Support Group Kuwait and
377th Transportation Support Command) would be formed to
agree on standard operating procedures for private convoys.
There was agreement in principle that private contractors
carrying goods under coalition military contract would
continue to be able to use the coalition crossing if
traveling with U.S. military escort. They would not be able
to use the coalition crossing if they were using private
security escorts. The working group will meet by December

19.


5. (C/NF) The working group will also address SOPs for
K-Crossing, the new coalition crossing point on the western
Kuwait-Iraq border before it opens for operation in February
or March. According to CFLCC and ASG-Kuwait reps, K-Crossing
SOPs will conform with the current MOU that governs the
border crossing except for the above terms regarding private
convoys with military contracts.

Other Issues
--------------


6. (C/NF) In addition to the issues of private convoys, the
working group will also address the question of categories of
goods subject to inspection by MOI Customs officials at
coalition crossing points. Specific mention was made that
cement and construction rebar were subject to inspection.
According to CFLCC reps, an SOP is needed because the
categories of goods currently being inspected by Customs
officials varies according to the inspectors.


7. (C/NF) The MOI raised questions about the lack of
immigration information on the new K-Crossing Card issued by
ASG-Kuwait to all persons authorized to use military border
crossings. The MOI cited the need for inclusion of the
National Identification number and the Residency number on
the Card to allow them to adequately track the current

KUWAIT 00004638 002 OF 002


immigration status of foreign workers. BG Thurgood of the
143rd TRANSCOM said his office would examine the issue to see
what could be done. 8,000 of the new cards have already been
issued.


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For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s

Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
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LEBARON