Cablegate: Humanitarian Assistance Update: Un and Energy

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

UNCLAS ANKARA 004481

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/NGA, EUR/SE AND PRM/ANE
DEPT PASS TO USAID FOR OFDA
BAGHDAD FOR IRAQI ASSISTANCE CENTER

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL TU IZ
SUBJECT: Humanitarian Assistance Update: UN and Energy
Shipments Flowing but New Restriction on U.S. Citizen
Crossings

Ref: Ankara 4251

1. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.

Summary:
--------

2. The World Food Program, Kellogg, Brown and Root, and
Delta Petroleum advise that food and fuel supplies
continue to flow across the Habur border crossing into
Iraq. Noting good cooperation with the GOT, WFP reports
that Turkey is still the leading source of food
procurements and still an important transit corridor for
shipments to Iraq. However, following the July 4
incident in Iraq, the MFA has instituted a diplomatic
note requirement for U.S. citizens seeking entry into
Iraq from Turkey. End Summary.

World Food Program
------------------

3. (U) Mission Disaster Relief Officer (MDRO) and
Environmental Specialist called on Taieb Essayem, the
World Food Program's Emergency Coordinator in Ankara, on
July 16 to discuss WFP shipments to Iraq. Essayem told
us that, through July 3, WFP has delivered 1.2 million
tons of food to Iraq through neighboring countries. Of
this, 450,000 tons have been sent through Turkey, which
remains the largest aid corridor in tonnage terms.
Essayem stated that food transport is slowing down now
that WFP is procuring food in Iraq. Other aid corridors
are increasing in relative importance given that
northern Iraq's warehouses are relatively full. Turkey
remains a leading supplier to the organization as well,
with USD 55.6 million (125,000 tons) of food bought in
Turkey in 2003. Spending on transport, milling and
other expenses brings the total spent in Turkey to USD
95 million.

4. (SBU) Essayem emphasized that the GOT has been very
cooperative in this operation, and noted that the WFP
and the GOT signed an agreement giving WFP diplomatic
status during the week of July 7. He reported that the
Habur crossing is now open 24 hours daily. However,
local authorities on the Iraqi side are charging WFP
fees of USD 5 for each 100 liters of fuel that truckers
bring with them on their return to Turkey and charges
WFP a fee of USD 20 per entering truck.

Fuel Aid and Trade
------------------

5. (SBU) Energy supplies continue to flow to Iraq from
Turkey. Delta Petroleum, a Turkish company which has
entered in an energy barter arrangement with SOMO, the
Iraqi state oil company, told us on July 15 that it has
transported 19,668 tons of gasoline and 6,658 tons of
liquid petroleum gas from Turkey to Iraq. It has also
moved 34,996 tons of fuel oil in the opposite direction.
Kellogg, Brown and Root Operations Manager Kurt Meyer
told us that KBR has bought 220 million liters of
benzine and 42,000 metric tons of LPG in Turkey for Iraq
(valued at USD 90 million) to date. Meyer confirmed
that Habur is now open on a 24-hour basis.

Diplomatic Note Now Required
----------------------------

6. (SBU) MFA advised us on July 16 that it would now
require a diplomatic note from the Embassy for all U.S.
citizens crossing into Iraq, including USG contractors
and private citizens. KBR advised that they were
unaware of the change in policy. A U.S. military
officer from the Incirlik base was turned back at the
Habur crossing July 16.
Pearson

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