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 05ANKARA1558, Mersin's Transit Trade for U.S. Poultry to Iraq

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. #05ANKARA1558.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
05ANKARA1558 2005-03-17 15:53 2011-08-24 01:00 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 02 ANKARA 001558 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EUR/SE, EB/EPD, AND EB/TPP/ABT 
DEPT PLEASE PASS USTR FOR NOVELLI, LERRION 
USDA FOR FAS FOR ITP/LEIER, DLP/SHNITZLER, DRENNAN 
USDOC FOR DEFALCO 
VIENNA FOR APHIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD EAGR PGOV TU
SUBJECT: Mersin's Transit Trade for U.S. Poultry to Iraq 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1.  (U) OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, TURKEY, AND IN PARTICULAR 
THE PORT OF MERSIN, HAS BECOME A MAJOR TRANSIT POINT FOR 
COMMERCIAL SALES OF U.S. POULTRY MEAT TO IRAQ AND COUNTRIES 
IN THE REGION.  TURKEY CREATED A FREE-TRADE ZONE IN MERSIN 
IN 1987, WHICH HAS EXCELLENT PORT FACILITIES AND AMPLE COLD 
STORAGE.  TRADERS ARE HOPEFUL THAT TRADE WILL CONTINUE TO 
GROW.  TRADERS FACE A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES IN SHIPPING TO 
THE REGION, WHICH THREATENS THE TRADE.  END SUMMARY. 
 
-------------------------- 
TRADE STOPS IN AUGUST 2004 
-------------------------- 
 
2.  (U) IN AUGUST 2004, NORTHERN IRAQI OFFICIALS BEGAN 
REFUSING TO ACCEPT U.S. HEALTH CERTIFICATES FOR POULTRY MEAT 
OSTENSIBLY BECAUSE OF AN OUTBREAK OF AVIAN INFLUENZA IN 
SEVERAL U.S. STATES.  ALTHOUGH THE OUTBREAK HAD ALREADY BEEN 
BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL WITH MOST COUNTRIES LIFTING THEIR 
TEMPORARY BAN, REGIONAL IRAQI OFFICIALS UNEXPECTEDLY BEGAN 
STOPPING U.S. SHIPMENTS.  THE POULTRY MEAT WAS ALLOWED TO 
CROSS THE TURKISH-IRAQI BORDER, BUT STOPPED INLAND. 
EVENTUALLY, THE BAN WAS LIFTED AND TRADE RESUMED. 
 
------------ 
GROWING TRADE 
-------------- 
 
3. (U) FROM MARCH 8 - 11, AGCOUNSELOR MET WITH A NUMBER OF 
TURKISH COMPANIES IN ADANA AND MERSIN, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY 
INVOLVED IN COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE AND FOOD TRADE WITH IRAQ. 
SEVERAL COMPANIES IN THE FREE TRADE ZONE INDICATED RECENTLY 
THAT THEY ARE SHIPPING OR LOOKING TO SHIP FROZEN POULTRY TO 
IRAQ, ESPECIALLY U.S. POULTRY.  ONE EXPORTER IS CURRENTLY 
SHIPPING APPROXIMATELY 4-5000 TONS A MONTH TO PRIVATE BUYERS 
IN IRAQ.  THE HEAD OF THE COMPANY INDICATED THAT THIS TOTAL 
COULD EASILY REACH 80,000 TONS IN 2005.  IN ADDITION TO 
IRAQ, THE COMPANY IS SHIPPING 12 TMT OF POULTRY A MONTH TO 
AFGHANISTAN AND 6 TMT TO AZERBAIJAN.  OTHER COMPANIES ARE 
SELLING LESS TO IRAQ, BUT BELIEVE MARKET DEMAND COULD 
INCREASE, ESPECIALLY IF THE SECURITY SITUATION STABILIZES. 
IN GENERAL, THE UNITED STATES, BRAZIL AND CHINA ARE SHIPPING 
POULTRY TO IRAQ. 
 
--------------- 
PROBLEMS ABOUND 
--------------- 
 
4.  (U) WHILE EXPORTS HAVE INCREASED SO HAVE THE 
DIFFICULTIES ASSOCIATED WITH IT.  TRADERS FACE SECURITY 
CONCERNS, SHIPPING AND PAYMENT DELAYS, AS WELL AS PROBLEMS 
WITH DOCUMENTATION ON A DAILY BASIS. 
 
5. (SBU) SECURITY CONCERNS ARE, OF COURSE, A PRIORITY.  MANY 
TRADERS AVOID RISK BY TRANSFERRING PRODUCT TO KURDISH OR 
ARAB TRUCK BEFORE SENDING TO THE SOUTH.  NONE OF THE 
EXPORTERS NOTED ANY RECENT PROBLEMS WITH SECURITY.  HOWEVER, 
ONE REPORTED THAT THEY HAD A DRIVER KIDNAPPED ABOUT A YEAR 
AGO.  THE INITIAL RANSOM REQUEST WAS FOR $100,000.  HOWEVER, 
WORKING THROUGH CONTACTS, THE RANSOM WAS REDUCED TO $26,000. 
 
------------- 
BORDER DELAYS 
------------- 
 
6.  (SBU) FOLLOWING SECURITY, MOST EXPORTERS WERE CONCERNED 
ABOUT DELAYS AT THE IRAQ-TURKISH BORDER, WHERE, ACCORDING TO 
ONE EXPORTER, LINES CAN REACH UP TO 85 KM.  SOME TRADERS ARE 
NOW TRANSFERRING PRODUCT ON THE TURKISH SIDE ONTO TRUCKS 
FROM CIZRE AND SILOPI.  ACCORDING TO TRADER, TRUCKS FROM 
THOSE TURKISH CITIES ARE GIVEN PRIORITY TREATMENT AND WAIT 
LESS TIME AT THE BORDER. 
 
7.  (SBU) ONCE IN IRAQ, SHIPMENTS ARE TRANSFERRED TO EITHER 
ARAB OR KURDISH-OWNED TRUCKS FOR DELIVERY TO THE SOUTH.  ONE 
MERCHANT WHO HAS COLD STORAGE FACILITIES IN MOSUL AND ZAKHO 
INDICATED THAT THE SITUATION SEEMED TO BE IMPROVING IN 
MOSUL.  HE HAD STOPPED SHIPMENTS IN AUGUST TO THE SOUTH BUT 
WAS HOPING TO RESUME THEM SHORTLY.  ACCORDING TO ONE 
EXPORTER, THE DELAYS AT THE TURKISH-IRAQI BORDER WERE 
FORCING TRADERS TO SEEK ALTERNATIVE ROUTES.  TURKISH TRUCKS 
TRANSITING SYRIA, HOWEVER, ARE BEING CHARGED A $500 A TRUCK 
SURCHARGE. SOME TRADERS INSTEAD ARE TRANSFERRING CARGO ONTO 
SYRIAN VESSELS, OFFLOADING IN LATTAKIA AND THEN SHIPPING ON 
SYRIAN TRUCKS TO IRAQ.  SOME INDICATED THAT SHOULD THE 
DELAYS AT THE TURKISH-IRAQI BORDER NOT IMPROVE, THEY WOULD 
USE THE SYRIAN ROUTE.  THIS OPTION HAS BEEN HAS BEEN 
DISPUTED BY OTHERS, HOWEVER. 
 
8.  (U) SEVERAL TRADERS REPORTED THAT IRAQI BORDER OFFICIALS 
HAVE ESTABLISHED DIRECT COMMUNICATIONS WITH THEIR TURKISH 
COUNTERPARTS.  RECENTLY, WHEN THE BORDER CLOSED, IRAQI 
OFFICIALS REQUESTED THAT TURKISH OFFICIALS AT THE FREE TRADE 
ZONE STOP ISSUING CERTIFICATES ALLOWING SHIPMENTS OUT OF THE 
ZONE.   ALTHOUGH SOME EXPORTERS COMPLAINED, THIS PROBABLY 
PREVENTED UNNECESSARY DELAYS AT THE BORDER. 
 
----------------- 
SUITCASE CHECKING 
----------------- 
 
9.  (SBU)    THE ABSENCE OF A RELIABLE BANKING SYSTEM MEANS 
THAT MOST TRANSACTIONS ARE MADE IN CASH WITH IMPORTERS OFTEN 
DELIVERING PAYMENTS WITH SUITCASES FILLED WITH MONEY. ONE 
TRADER FELT THAT NOT ONLY IS THIS DANGEROUS BUT IT 
CONTRIBUTES TO THE GROWTH OF BLACK-MARKET TRADE.  MOST 
TURKISH TRADERS COMPLAINED THAT IRAQI BUYERS USE ANY EXCUSE 
NOT TO MAKE PAYMENTS.  OTHERS INDICATED THAT THEIR SUCCESS 
DEPENDED EXCLUSIVELY ON THE STRENGTH OF THEIR COUNTERPARTS 
IN IRAQ.  ONE POULTRY EXPORTER, WHO HAS BEEN OPERATING IN 
IRAQ SINCE THE MID 1990S, WORKS EXCLUSIVELY WITH THREE 
WEALTHY COUNTERPARTS WHO, IN HIS WORDS, HAVE INFLUENCE IN 
THE REGION. 
 
-------------------------------------- 
HEALTH CERTIFICATES COULD BE A PROBLEM 
-------------------------------------- 
 
10.  (U) ACCORDING TO ONE TRADER, IRAQI OFFICIALS ACCEPT 
HEALTH CERTIFICATES ISSUED FOR AZERBAIJAN, TURKMENISTAN AND 
UZBEKISTAN, WHICH NORMALLY ACCOMPANY U.S. SHIPMENTS.  THIS 
COULD BE PROBLEMATIC IN THE FUTURE UNLESS A NEW U.S.-IRAQI 
HEALTH CERTIFICATE IS NEGOTIATED. 
 
11.  BAGHDAD MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. 
 
EDELMAN