US embassy cable - 04ANKARA6798

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 006798 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2014 
TAGS: ETRD, IZ, PREL, PTER, TU 
SUBJECT: MFA FINAL REPORT OF TRILATERAL (TURKEY, IRAQ, 
U.S.) MEETING ON TRUCKER SECURITY 
 
REF: ANKARA 06675 
 
Classified By: DCM Robert Deutsch for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) This is an action request for MNF-I (via CENTCOM and 
Embassy Baghdad).  Please see para 6. 
 
2.  (C) MFA gave embassy December 3 the text of the final 
report of the November 30 Trilateral Meeting to Improve 
Security for Turkish Truckers in Iraq.  The text (para 7) 
reflects some agreements or requests that were reached 
after the draft text was completed and some additional 
points. 
 
3.   (C) The first page of the final report records the 
agreements reached by the Turks and Iraqis.  There are only 
minor substantive changes from the draft paper.  The Turks 
dropped the reference to establishing temporary "shifting 
locations," where Turkish drivers can transfer their 
cargoes for delivery in Iraq by Iraqi trucks and drivers. 
The final paper also includes a reference to establishing 
stations for sharing security information.  This point was 
also added in the list of requests for MNF-I. 
 
4.  (C) The second page includes Turkey's requests to MNF-I 
to improve and extend security provided by MNF-I.  In 
addition to the requests included in the draft text, the 
final paper adds several points that were also reported in 
reftel:  MNF-I escorts for trucks entering and leaving 
Iraq; cooperation to repatriate Turkish drivers killed or 
wounded in Iraq; and provision of insurance or other 
compensation for death or damage to trucks in Iraq.  The 
Turks added three new requests to the paper:  1) that MNF-I 
provide security escorts for international humanitarian 
assistance (this likely is an indirect reference to 
humanitarian missions conducted by the Turkish Red Crescent 
in Iraq); that MNF-I designate a liaison officer who will 
be available 24 hours to coordinate emergency cases; and 3) 
that MNF-I set up stations to provide current security and 
convoy information to drivers. 
 
5. (C) Some of Turkey,s requests of MNF-I are ambiguous. 
For example, we do not know what "efficient and more numerous 
protection teams" really means.  Nor is it clear what 
"coordination and cooperation in the indemnification of 
damages and casualties with Turkish lorries and drivers" 
means.  We know the Turks are concerned that the families of 
Turkish truck drivers killed in Iraq are not adequately 
compensated for their loss, but at the same time USG 
contracts specifically make insurance the responsibility of 
the contractor. 
 
6. (C) Action request for MNF-I:  Although Colonel Williams, 
who represented MNF-I at the November 30 meeting, responded 
fully to the Turks requests, we recommend that MNF-I be 
prepared to reiterate those points and respond to the 
requests added by the Turks to the text of the final report 
at the next trucker security meeting (not yet scheduled). 
 
7.   (C) Text of final report: 
 
Page 1 
 
THE TRIPARTITE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY FORUM 
(30th November, Ankara) 
The Mutually Agreed Points on 
Trade and Transportation Security between Turkey and Iraq 
 
During the discussions at the Tripartite Transportation 
Security Forum meeting held on 30th November 2004 in 
Ankara, regarding the security issues related to the 
transportation from Turkey to Iraq and vice versa, the 
following points were mutually agreed upon by the Turkish 
and Iraqi sides: 
 
- Parking and accommodation facilities are to be identified 
and provided by the Iraqi side for the benefit of Turkish 
trucks carrying goods to Iraq.  (There is already a 
joint-venture initiative between the Iraqi Land 
Transportation Company and a Turkish firm.  This 
joint-venture initiative can also undertake other projects 
of parking and accommodation facilities to be built); 
 
- Increasing checkpoints, escorting and patrolling 
throughout various route segments.  Protection is needed 
along the whole route, as well as for the parking and 
accommodation spaces; 
 
- Setting up a network of communications by satellite for 
the monitoring of incoming and outgoing trucks from Iraq; 
- Jointly facilitating transportation by road and railway 
through Syria; 
- Stations will be constituted at locations required, to 
facilitate the flow of information concerning the 
surveillance of the journey of Turkish convoys; including 
information sharing about the security situation on the 
itinerary before departure, as well as during the whole 
trip; 
- For a smooth implementation of the afore-mentioned 
measures, a task force will be created to follow up the 
execution of the necessary prospective arrangements. 
Representatives at the task force should be assigned by the 
Turkish and Iraqi sides. 
 
- The two sides shall designate liaison officers who will 
have all-time accessible communication facilities at their 
disposal, with a view to remaining in contact for emergency 
cases; 
 
- The implementation process for the previously cited 
measures should commence not later than a fortnight from 
the date of this meeting of the Forum. 
 
- A list of points submitted as requests to the MNF for 
implementation with regard to reinforcing the security 
measures vis--vis the Turkish transporters in Iraq is 
attached as an annex. 
 
Page 2 
 
THE TRIPARTITE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY FORUM 
(30th November 2004, Ankara) 
REQUEST FROM THE MNF (USA) 
 
During the discussions at the Tripartite Transportation 
Security Forum meeting held on November 30th 2004, in 
Ankara, on the security issues related to the 
transportation from Turkey to Iraq and vice versa, the 
following points were submitted as requests to the MNF for 
implementation: 
 
- Reinforcement of military escorts, 
 
- More troops and accompanying vehicles, formation of 
larger and stronger security platforms, 
 
- Airborne support, 
 
- A reduced number of Turkish trucks in a single convoy, 
 
- Efficient and more numerous protection teams, 
 
- Extending the protection on the route segments and 
increasing check-points, 
 
- Setting up of stations at locations required, to 
facilitate the flow of information concerning the 
surveillance of the journey of Turkish convoys; including 
information sharing about the security situation on the 
itinerary before departure, as well as during the whole 
trip. 
 
- Provision of the same level of security to incoming and 
outgoing trucks, 
 
- Ensuring a thorough coverage of safety to international 
humanitarian assistance as provided for MNF supplies, 
 
- Immediate and effective cooperation for the repatriation 
of the bodies of deceased/wounded Turkish drivers 
(registration, reporting and medical assistance), 
 
- Coordination and cooperation in the indemnification of 
damages and casualties with Turkish lorries and drivers. 
 
- Designation of liaison officers, who will have all-time 
accessible communication facilities at their disposal, with 
a view to remaining in contact for emergency cases. 
 
END TEXT 
 
8. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
EDELMAN