Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 04ANKARA2107, Iraq: Turkish Foreign Trade's Questions on

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #04ANKARA2107.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
04ANKARA2107 2004-04-12 14:02 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Ankara
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 002107 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/NGA AND EUR/SE 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD ELTN PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT:  Iraq:  Turkish Foreign Trade's Questions on 
Reconstruction Levy, Truck Manifest System, Scrap Export 
Ban 
 
Sensitive But Unclassified.  Please Handle Accordingly. 
 
 
REF: (A) Baghdad 181 (B) Ankara 1709 
 
 
1. (U) This cable contains action requests for the 
Dept/CPA.  See para 12. 
 
 
Summary: 
-------- 
 
 
2. (SBU) Foreign Trade officials formally requested 
additional information on the implementation of the Iraq 
reconstruction levy on April 15, and suggested that it 
be collected at final destination rather than on the 
border to minimize disruption to Habur operations.  The 
GOT also requested more information on the new truck 
manifest requirement and fee, and on scrap metal trade 
rules.  Embassy requests the Department and CPA's 
response to Turkish inquiries on these subjects. 
Foreign Trade claims that throughput at Habur has 
reached record levels and exceeds the 3,700 truck per 
day target, but U.S. statistics indicate that crossings 
have remained below this target.  End Summary. 
 
 
3. (SBU) In an April 9 meeting with Econoff, Sevket 
Ilgac, Deputy Director General for Agreements at the 
Turkish Foreign Trade Undersecretariat, posed technical 
questions on the Iraqi reconstruction levy, questioned 
the basis for a new Iraqi manifest fee, and requested a 
status report on a ban on trade in scrap metal.  He also 
claimed that throughput at the Habur border crossing has 
reached record highs. 
 
 
Questions on the Reconstruction Levy 
------------------------------------ 
 
 
4. (U) Ilgac, to whom we had earlier sent the ref A 
press release on the April 15 implementation of the five 
percent reconstruction levy, passed Econoff a note (para 
13) on implementation.  In particular, Ilgac asked for 
details on how taxable value of imports will be 
determined, and whether it will simply be based on 
invoice value.  He also asked whether the importer, 
rather than the exporter, would be responsible for 
paying the fee, as is usual worldwide.  Ilgac urged that 
the levy not be collected at the border crossing, but at 
its final destination to avoid congestion at Habur.  He 
also opined that most small importers would choose to 
pay the fee at each shipment, rather than using a 
monthly billing system. 
 
 
6. (SBU) Note:  EUCOM, Defense Energy Supply Command 
(DESC) and PWC representatives told Adana Congen that 
they had spread word of the levy implementation and 
believe that the Turkish transportation community is 
becoming informed of the change.  DESC reported rumors 
of Turkish "counter-levy or tax", but Foreign Trade made 
no mention of this.  End Note. 
 
 
7. (SBU) Ilgac raised the practice by which the 
Kurdistan Democratic Party collects fees from Turkish 
drivers, and called for this to cease or at least for a 
reduction in fees charged. 
 
 
Questioning the New Manifest Requirement 
---------------------------------------- 
 
 
8. (U) Referring to a letter from the Iraqi 
Transportation Minister to his Turkish counterpart (para 
15) announcing a new manifest requirement for trucks, 
Ilgac asked for further details and provided a note 
(para 14) on this subject.  Ilgac said the Turkish side 
did not object to the documentary requirement, which is 
apparently aimed at enhancing security and preventing 
smuggling.  However, the Turks do object to the USD 15 
fee per truck, which is apparently not charged in 
exchange for insurance coverage or any other service. 
Ilgac maintained that such fees are prohibited by the 
prewar bilateral road transport agreement. 
 
 
Scrap Metal Trade 
----------------- 
 
 
9. (SBU) Ilgac complained that a single company in 
northern Iraq maintained an export monopoly on scrap 
metal and was charging exorbitant fees.  Referring to 
the March trade talks in Ankara (ref B), he maintained 
that MFA Senior Advisor Ambassador Neumann had said that 
these exports were prohibited.  Ilgac asked for 
confirmation, preferably in writing, that these exports 
were now illegal.  Note:  At the March talks, Foreign 
Trade had promised to ban scrap imports into Turkey. 
They asked that Iraqi officials send the GOT a letter 
confirming the Iraqi export ban, along with a copy of 
the relevant regulations, and asking the Turks to impose 
a corresponding ban on imports.  End Note. 
 
 
Foreign Trade Maintains Habur Crossings Up 
------------------------------------------ 
 
 
10. (SBU) Econoff told Ilgac that we have had reports 
that throughput at Habur remains on average considerably 
below targeted levels, and this is apparently due to the 
fact that the crossing is not staffed on a 24/7 basis. 
Note:  U.S. sources at Habur indicate an average of 2998 
trucks crossing daily in the 30 days prior to April 10. 
End Note.  Ilgac maintained that daily crossings at 
Habur had reached record high levels in recent weeks, 
claiming that traffic had ranged between 3,500 and 4,000 
trucks per day on a number of days.  He stated that 
3,500 trucks daily should be considered the normal 
capacity limit.  Higher throughput means loosened 
controls, with consequently higher budget losses to fuel 
smuggling.  Ilgac maintains that, for security reasons 
and additional fees charged during these hours, very few 
truckers are willing to cross the border at night. 
 
 
11. (U) On rail transport, Ilgac added that one fuel 
train was traveling to Iraq daily, and that the 
authorities were working to increase this to two trains 
daily in the next few months.  Ilgac told us that 
Habur's Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) modernization 
project is slated to begin in July. 
 
 
Action Request 
-------------- 
 
 
12.  (U) Embassy requests detailed information which we 
can share with the GOT and Turkish exporters on how the 
reconstruction levy will be processed with respect to 
the Habur crossing.  This is vital to minimizing or 
averting any disruption to the flow of vital supplies 
for Iraq.  Embassy also requests background on the 
manifest fee and on scrap trade rules to answer Foreign 
Trade's inquiries on these subjects. 
 
 
13. (U) Begin text Foreign Trade U/S Note Regarding the 
Reconstruction Levy: 
 
 
The Reconstruction Levy will be imposed on certain goods 
to be imported into Iraq from all countries beginning as 
of April 15, 2004, at a rate of 5 percent of the taxable 
value of goods. 
 
 
The necessary measures should be taken in order to 
prevent the congestion at the Habur-Ibrahim El-Khalil 
Gates.  Within this framework, detailed information on 
the reconstruction levy implementation has to be given 
to the concerned companies. 
 
 
According to international practice, customs duties have 
to be paid by importer companies.  Therefore, we would 
like to have a detailed explanation regarding the 
responsibilities of the Turkish exporter and 
transportation companies in this regard. 
 
 
The collection of the Reconstruction Levy at the border 
gates will pave the way for longer waiting times for the 
goods to be cleared.  In order to simplify the 
procedure, in accordance with international practice, 
the Reconstruction Levy should be collected at the 
custom point of destination of the goods rather than the 
customs gate. 
 
 
End Text Reconstruction Note. 
 
 
14. (U) Begin text Foreign Trade U/S Note Regarding the 
Iraqi Manifest System 
 
 
According to the letter of the Iraqi Minister of 
Transportation Mr. Behnam Ziya Polis addressed to the 
Turkish Minister of Transportation Mr. Binali Yildirim, 
the Iraqi side would implement the manifest system as of 
April 2, 2004, with the aim of providing security and to 
prevent smuggling for all trucks, including fuel 
tankers. 
 
 
Even though these manifest documents have to be 
considered as Customs Declaration Documents, in practice 
they are used as TIR carnets. 
 
 
The manifest documents are being sold by the Iraqi 
Companies for USD 15 to the Turkish transportation 
companies in accordance with the authorization given by 
the Iraqi State Co. for Land Transportation. 
 
 
It is very important to clear up whether the Iraqi State 
Co. for Land Transportation authorized such companies to 
issue these documents. 
 
 
According to our preliminary investigations this amount 
is not charged in return of any service given by the 
Iraqi State Co. for Land Transportation. 
 
 
15. (U) Begin text Polis/Yildirim Letter: 
 
 
H.E. Mr. Binali Yildirim 
Minister of Transportation 
Ankara, Turkey 
 
 
Excellency, it gives me the pleasure to extend our 
compliments and would like to bring to your Excellency's 
attention of the following: 
 
 
In order to maintain full control regarding details of 
all goods imported through official border outlets from 
all the different aspects, particularly the security 
aspects and in order to put an end to smuggling, the 
competent Iraq authorities have decided to renew the 
application of the Iraqi Manifest system, and the non- 
persistence of trucks loaded with goods, including oil 
products from leaving or entering the border points 
without being accompanied with manifest documents, this 
procedure will commence as from 2 of April 2004. 
 
 
From our own side, we have opened an Iraqi Office of 
Land Transportation at Abraham al Khaki customs point 
and we have instructed the said office of the above- 
mentioned regulations, namely of not permitting the 
entry or departure of trucks unless accompanied with 
manifest documents. 
 
 
Would you kindly therefore inform the competent Turkish 
Authorities, the transportation companies, as well as 
Turkish border outlets of the new arrangements. 
 
 
(Complimentary closing) 
BEHNAM ZIYA POLIS, IRAQI MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION 
 
 
End text Polis/Yildirim letter. 
 
 
16. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
Edelman