US embassy cable - 05ANKARA47

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000047 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/03/2015 
TAGS: EPET, ETRD, IZ, PREL, TU 
SUBJECT: TURKEY AND IRAQ DISCUSS STEPS TO IMPROVE TRUCKER 
SECURITY 
 
REF: 2004 ANKARA 6675 
 
Classified By: Economic Counselor Thomas Goldberger for reasons 1.4 b & 
 d. 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  Iraqi and Turkish delegations met in Ankara 
December 29-30 to discuss implementation of agreements 
reached at the November 30 trilateral (U.S.-Iraq-Turkey) 
trucker security meeting.  The Iraqis proposed a more eastern 
route for Turkish truckers driving from Zakho to Baghdad and 
pledged to keep the new route secure.  They asked Turkish 
help to construct secure rest areas along the route and to 
establish a communications network for Iraqi forces 
responsible for trucker security.  Turkish officials want out 
advice on the Iraqi proposals and want to hold the next 
trilateral meeting in February.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (SBU) Iraqi and Turkish delegations met on December 29-30 
to discuss ways to implement agreements reached at November 
30 trilateral (U.S.-Iraq-Turkey) meeting on trucker security. 
 According to Sedef Yavuzalp of the MFA's DG for Economic 
Issues, which organized the meeting, the two sides focused on 
three issues:  agreeing on a secure route from the 
Turkey-Iraq border to Baghdad, constructing secure rest areas 
for drivers along the route, and establishing a 
communications system for Iraqi forces coordinating security 
for the drivers.  The Iraqi delegation was led by Baghdad's 
Ambassador to Ankara Sabah Omran and included representatives 
from the Interior Ministry, Defense Ministry, Foreign 
Ministry, the Ibrahim Khalil border facility and the Iraqi 
Chamber of Trade and Industry.  The Turkish side was led by 
MFA Director General for Economic Affairs Oguz Ozge. 
 
3.  (C) Safe Route:  The Iraqi side reported that the current 
route used by truckers -- through Mosul and Tikrit is unsafe 
and Iraqi officials could not ensure security along this 
route.  They recommended that the truckers use an alternative 
route, from the border town of Zakho through Dohuk, Erbil, 
Altin  Kopru, Kirkuk, Tuz, Khalis to Baghdad and pledged to 
keep this route secure. 
 
4.  (C) Rest Areas:  The Iraqi delegation asked Turkey to 
build trucker rest facilities on the alternative route at 
Daraman and El-Adaim, and to renovate a facility at Faida. 
Turkish officials have not yet approached Turkish firms about 
their interest in these projects. 
 
5.  (SBU) Communications:  The Iraqi side asked for Turkish 
help in establishing a network of military-type radios 
dedicated to providing secure communications for Iraqi forces 
responsible for maintaining security of the truck route and 
to communicate with truckers.  Turkish officials responded 
that a GSM-based communications system might make more sense. 
 
 
6.  (C) Security:  Iraq officials explained that security for 
Turkish drivers along the new route would be guaranteed by 
Iraqi security forces.  Interior Ministry forces would 
provide escorts for truck convoys and would secure rest 
facilities.  The Defense Ministry would be responsible for 
patrolling the truck routes.  The two sides agreed to ask 
MNF-I to provide helicopter support for the truck routes. 
 
7.  (C) The Turkish delegation complained that fees collected 
by Kurdish officials at the border are a major irritant and 
cost for truckers and pointed out that such fees are not 
collected at other Iraqi border crossings.  The Iraqis 
replied that any border fees must be approved by the central 
government in Baghdad and promised to look into the 
situation.  The two sides also confirmed the need for a 
second border crossing. 
 
8.  (C) Comment:  The focus on practical issues is welcome. 
Yavuzalp said that the trucker issue was one of the issues 
Foreign Minister Gul was one of the issues MFA staff 
recommended that Foreign Minister Gul raise with Deputy 
Secretary Armitage when they met in Ankara January 3, but 
 
SIPDIS 
apparently he did not.  Turkish officials are seeking U.S. 
advice about the Iraqi recommendations.  They also want to 
schedule the next trilateral meeting on trucker security in 
February. 
 
9.  (U) Baghdad Minimize considered. 
EDELMAN