US embassy cable - 04ANKARA2201

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002201 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE PASS TDA FOR D. STEIN 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2014 
TAGS: ECIN, ETRD, IZ, PREL, TU 
SUBJECT: THE SECOND IRAQ-TURKEY BORDER CROSSING:  PROPOSAL 
PASSED TO MFA 
 
 
REF: A. ANKARA 1841 
     B. STATE 82870 
 
 
Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY.  Econoff shared U.S. proposal (ref b) for a 
TDA study of the Iraqi and Turkish proposals for a second 
border crossing.  MFA DDG Sakir Fakili said Turkey had nearly 
completed its own study, but was open to all suggestions and 
would respond to the TDA idea after consulting with other 
agencies.  On related border issues, Fakili confirmed that 
Turkish officials would ensure priority for JP8 fuel 
shipments and raised a concern that Kurdish officials would 
be collecting the Reconstruction levy.  End Summary. 
 
 
TDA Study of Second Border Crossing 
 
 
2.  (C) Econoff met with MFA DDG for Bilateral Economic 
Affairs Sakir Fakili to share the proposal to seek a 
TDA-funded feasibility study to help Turkey and Iraq reach 
agreement on the second border crossing.  Fakili said he 
appreciated any U.S. initiatives to help Turkey and Iraq 
reach an agreement, adding that he needed to consult with 
other interested agencies in the GOT before giving us a 
response.  Fakili reviewed the arguments favoring the Turkish 
proposal -- emphasizing that the Iraqi proposal would mean 
that trucks would continue to use the mountainous road from 
Zakho to Mosul, while the Turkish proposal includes a new 
road running from the border to Mosul from the west.  He 
suggested that if the two sides agreed on the Turkish 
proposal, a number of possibilities for funding the project 
would open up, including from Turkish and international 
sources. 
 
 
3.  (C) Econoff emphasized that the U.S. does not want to 
take sides.  However, both sides believed their proposals 
have merit and were preparing separate feasibility studies. 
A TDA feasibility study would eliminate the financial burden 
on both countries to prepare feasibility studies and allow 
the two sides to make an objective comparison of the economic 
and engineering aspects of the proposals.  In this way, the 
U.S. hoped to help the sides reach agreement on the technical 
issues and focus on the remaining political aspects of the 
problem.  Fakili noted that the GOT has already conducted a 
number of studies, including site visits by Turkish teams in 
Iraq, and that the Turkish side has nearly completed its 
study. 
 
 
JP-8 Shipments 
 
 
4.  (C) Econoff raised concerns about the extraordinary need 
for shipment of JP8 fuel from Turkey for U.S. military 
operations in Iraq.  Despite agreement to ensure that the 
tankers carrying the JP8 were accorded top priority by 
Turkish border officials, we had received reports that the 
Deputy Governor in charge of the border was reluctant to do 
so.  Fakili confirmed that his office had checked with the 
Deputy Governor's office and assured us that the GOT would 
fulfill its commitment to "facilitate passage."  He added 
that there will be no problem getting the needed fuel 
through. 
 
 
Reconstruction Levy 
 
 
5.  (C) Fakili took the opportunity to again raise the GOT's 
complaint that Kurdish officials continue to charge Turkish 
truck drivers arbitrary and unsanctioned fees.  He added that 
he had heard that Kurdish officials would be allowed to 
select who would collect the Reconstruction levy, which began 
April 15.  Econoff responded that the Reconstruction Levy was 
initiated to provide Iraq's central government with funding 
for reconstruction.  It is our understanding that the fees 
will be collected by officers of the Iraqi Customs Service, 
who have been selected, trained and paid by the Central 
government and that all revenues collected will go to 
Baghdad. 
 
 
6. (U) MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. 
EDELMAN