Cablegate: Turkey Waiting for Response to Iraq Reconstruction

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

191529Z Jun 03

UNCLAS ANKARA 003975

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR E, EB, EUR/SE, NEA/NGA, AND IO
NSC FOR QUANRUD AND BRYZA
DEPT PASS USAID FOR OFDA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY WAITING FOR RESPONSE TO IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION
PROPOSALS

REF: A) IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION PAPER PROVIDED BY ZIYAL
ON JUNE 16 B) ANKARA 3913 C) ANKARA 3832 D)
ANKARA 3848 E) ANKARA 3777

1. This cable contains an action request. See paras 2 and 4.

2. Summary and action request: The GOT has proposed various
types of Iraq Reconstruction assistance, including: the
donation of office supplies, vegetable seeds, and two
hospitals; the provision of electricity and mobile phone
lines; reestablishment of civair links; and sending personnel
to ORHA. The GOT is waiting for a USG or OCPA response on
each of these proposals. Post would appreciate Dept/OCPA's
guidance on responding to the GOT soonest. End summary and
action request.

3. The GOT has recently made several proposals related to
Iraq reconstruction and humanitarian assistance for which it
is waiting a USG/CPA response (refs). These proposals
include:

-- Provision of office supplies and furniture (ref B): In
response to a request from the Iraqi MFA, the GOT is prepared
to send office supplies to Iraq via Harbur Gate. The MFA has
requested OCPA authorization for this shipment, and that U.S.
authorities in Iraq take appropriate security measures to
help ensure safe passage of the drivers/trucks transporting
the supplies.

-- Hospitals (ref C): The GOT has proposed funding
construction of and equipment for two hospitals in Baghdad
and Kirkuk, and has asked that the USG advise with which
entity in Iraq the GOT could pursue this proposal.

-- Reestablishing civair links (ref D, E): The GOT is
interested in starting flights between Baghdad and Istanbul
as soon as possible. Embassy looks forward to Department
response to ref E, regarding establishing civilian air
control between Iraq and Turkey.

-- Resumes for ORHA personnel: The GOT has provided several
resumes of individuals who could be seconded to ORHA, which
we have forwarded to Department, and is waiting a response.

-- Electricity: Ref A states that the GOT has proposed to
supply Iraq with 70 MW of electricity. MFA Coordinator for
Iraqi Reconstruction Ambassador Okcun clarified to EconCouns
that this is a commercial offer from a private Turkish
company. Okcun requested that we inform the MFA if OCPA is
interested, and the MFA will coordinate with the company.

-- Telecommunications: Ref A states that the GOT had
previously proposed to donate a 300-line mobile phone
switchboard with a satellite connection. The GOT is waiting
for a OCPA response to this proposal (note: we had not seen
this proposal prior to ref A).

-- Harbur Gate: Ref A proposes that Turkey open a new border
gate near the Syrian border, which would require construction
of two bridges over the Tigris and 30 km of new road on the
Iraqi side of the border. The GOT requests a U.S. response
to this proposal.

-- Provision of vegetable seeds: We understand that U/S
Ziyal raised during his to U/S Grossman June 16 the GOT's
willingness to send vegetable seeds to relieve the severe
seed shortage in southern Iraq. The GOT will need a point of
contact at OCPA to facilitate this shipment.

4. (SBU) Action request: We would like to respond to the GOT
as soon as possible regarding their various proposals. Post
would appreciate Dept/OCPA's guidance.
PEARSON

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