US embassy cable - 05ANKARA1283

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001283 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O.12958: DECL: 03/08/2015 
TAGS: ELTN, ETRD, IZ, PREL, TU 
SUBJECT: TURKEY'S RENEWED INTEREST IN SECOND BORDER 
CROSSING WITH IRAQ 
 
REFS: A. 2005 ANKARA 1214 
 
      B. 2004 ANKARA 2560 
      C. 2004 ANKARA 2983 
      D. 2004 CPA BAGHDAD 444 
 
Classified By: Ambassador for reasons 1.4 b & d. 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  Turkish officials have renewed their calls 
for a second border crossing to Iraq.  They have asked the 
USG to help persuade Iraqi officials to agree on a second 
border gate and inquired about the U.S. offer of 2004 to fund 
a TDA feasibility study of the border options.  Post 
recommends that we work with the Turks and Iraqis to promote 
progress on this issue, including in conjunction with the 
already planned visit by TDA in March.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C) MFA Under Secretary Ali Tuygan asked Ambassador 
Edelman March 4 about the U.S. offer of 2004 to finance a TDA 
feasibility study of a second border gate with Iraq.  Tuygan 
said Turkey remained interested in the proposal but had never 
received an answer from the U.S.  Ambassador Edelman told 
Tuygan that Turkish officials told us in May 2004 that Turkey 
was not interested in doing the study.  (Note:  Then MFA DG 
Sakir Fakili told us May 5, 2004, (ref b) that the study was 
unnecessary because Turkey had already done a feasibility 
study.  He clarified the GOT position May 26 (ref c) by 
adding that Turkey would agree to a study but on the 
condition that TDA study the Turkish proposal only.) 
 
3.   (C) On March 8, MFA DG for Economic Affairs Oguz Ozge 
(who assumed this position in December 2004 after a four-year 
post in Malaysia) told Econ Counselor that Turkey was 
increasingly concerned that the Habur Gate crossing to Iraq 
was over-burdened and could no longer handle the increasing 
volume of traffic.  Ozge accompanied Trade Minister Tuzmen 
and Interior Minister Aksu, when they visited the border 
region on February 27.  Ozge said that Ankara believes there 
should be "several border gates" to accommodate the expected 
growth of Turkish and international trade with Iraq.  Unlike 
what Fakili told us in May, Ozge said Ankara was not wedded 
to a specific location.  However, the GOT did not see a 
rationale for a plan that would result in a second gate close 
to the Habur Gate that used the same road through Zakho into 
Iraq.  Ozge passed us an Aide-Memoire laying out Turkey's 
position.  Post will e-mail a copy to EUR/SE and Embassy 
Baghdad.  Ozge asked the U.S. to help persuade Iraqi 
officials to come to an agreement on a second border 
crossing.  Ozge continued that Turkey would be happy to talk 
to TDA officials about a feasibility study that explores the 
pros and cons of several borders crossing with Iraq. 
 
4.  (C) Comment:  Post recommends that we pursue Ankara's 
renewed interest in the TDA study.  We request that TDA 
Regional Director for Europe and Eurasia Dan Stein be 
prepared to discuss this subject with Turkish officials when 
he visits Ankara March 26-27.  Such a TDA study should 
evaluate several options for a second border crossing, 
including but not limited to the Turkish proposal.  In order 
to proceed, it will also be necessary to gain Baghdad's 
approval.  We suggest that Embassy Baghdad raise this subject 
with Iraqi interlocutors as a possible item for discussions 
during or on the margins of the upcoming trilateral and 
bilateral meetings on trucker security. 
 
5. Baghdad Minimize Considered. 
EDELMAN