US embassy cable - 05ANKARA1831

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001831 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2015 
TAGS: ELTN, ETRD, IZ, PREL, TU 
SUBJECT: TURKEY DEFERS ON TDA STUDY OF SECOND TURKEY-IRAQ 
BORDER CROSSING 
 
REF: ANKARA 1283 
 
Classified By: DCM Robert Deutsch for reasons 1.4 b & d. 
 
1. (C)  Summary:  The GOT considers additional border 
crossings with Iraq a high priority, but contrary to recent 
indications, it continues to insist that the second border 
must be constructed according to the Turkish proposal -- with 
the crossing near the Syrian border and new roads running 
south to Mosul.  MFA DG for Economics Oguz Ozge told visiting 
TDA Regional Director Dan Stein and DCM on March 29 that 
Turkey will stick by its position and was confident that "we 
can persuade" the new Iraqi government that the Turkish 
proposal is best.  As a result, the GOT did not feel a TDA 
feasibility study of the alternatives for a second border 
crossing and road network was necessary.  End Summary. 
2.  (C) Following up on MFA U/S Tuygan's inquiry to 
Ambassador Edelman about our 2004 offer to fund a TDA 
feasibility study of a second border crossing with Iraq, TDA 
Regional Director for Europe Dan Stein and DCM met with MFA 
DG for Economic Issues Oguz Ozge March 29 to explain the U.S. 
proposal.  DCM said the U.S. supports agreement between Iraq 
and Turkey to build a new border crossing to relieve stress 
on the Habur Gate crossing and support growing trade.  The 
U.S. was offering the TDA study as a way to evaluate the 
various alternatives available (including the site of the 
crossing and the supporting road networks) and clarify issues 
for the two sides to focus on in their discussions which seem 
to us to be at a stalemate, despite both sides commitment to 
additional border gates. 
 
3.  (C) Ozge explained that currently there is only one route 
from Turkey through the Habur Gate into Iraq -- via the Zakho 
Pass, Dohuk and Mosul -- and that this route is already near 
its capacity.  Turkey does not think it makes sense to build 
a second border crossing (as proposed by Iraq) that would 
feed into the same crowded roads leading from Zakho to Mosul; 
the GOT considers it essential to build several border 
crossings and routes into Iraq to support the expected boom 
in Turkey-Iraq trade.  He said that Turkey would continue 
pursuing acceptance of its proposal for a border gate at 
Ovakoy and new roads over the tigris to Mosul as the first 
additional project. 
 
4.  (C) Ozge emphasized that there are "no hidden motives" 
behind Turkish insistence on its proposal.  He noted that 
Turkey did a feasibility study in 1996 that demonstrated that 
the Turkish proposal was the best option; therefore a TDA 
study was not necessary.  He suggested that agreement on a 
third or fourth gate could follow quickly agreement on the 
second gate, and a TDA feasibility study of those options 
might prove useful -- but only after conclusion of the second 
border crossing as proposed by Turkey. 
 
5.  (C) Ozge said that Turkish officials have talked with 
Iraqi government officials and Talabani, who agree that 
several additional border gates are desirable.  Once the ITG 
is formed, he said, the Turks are confident they can persuade 
them this proposal is best.  He added that KDP head Masud 
Barzani opposes the Turkish plan because he fears that he 
will no longer be able to collect fees from Turkish drivers 
entering Iraq.  Ozge admitted, however, that the Turkish 
proposed route would still run through KRG territory for 
about 10 km.  He insisted that "we can persuade Barzani, 
too."  In a previous conversation, Ozge's deputy Mehmet Gucuk 
suggested that Turkey could "partially compensate" Barzani; 
one option would be to guarantee a minimum flow through the 
Zakho route. 
 
6.  (C) DCM emphasized that a TDA study could not proceed on 
a limited basis and asked Ozge to clarify the GOT position. 
Ozge responded that Turkey did not need the TDA study now, 
but added that "we welcome your help."   He suggested that 
officials from Turkey, the ITG and U.S. meet together to 
reach agreement on the second border gate.  DCM responded 
that the U.S. would be glad to join as an impartial observer 
as long as both sides invited the U.S. to participate. 
However, he emphasized that Turkish officials will have to 
convince their Iraqi colleagues, pointing out that the Iraqis 
may not have full confidence in the Turkish feasibility study. 
 
7.  (C) Comment: The Ambassador intends to follow up with U/S 
Tuygan to confirm the GOT decision to defer a TDA study and 
assure him that we continue to support efforts by Iraq and 
Turkey to build additional border crossings. 
8.  (U)  Baghdad Minimize Considered. 
EDELMAN