Cablegate: Letter for Amb Bremer From Turkish Union Of

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

070957Z Nov 03

UNCLAS ANKARA 006971

SIPDIS

FOR AMBASSADOR BREMER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EAID ETTC PREL IZ TU
SUBJECT: LETTER FOR AMB BREMER FROM TURKISH UNION OF
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (TOBB)

The following letter addressed to Ambassador Bremer, was
given to Ambassador Edelman on November 6, 2003 by Rifat
Hisarciklioglu, President of TOBB, for forwarding to CPA:

Begin text of letter:

Your Excellency,

I have the honor to inform you that we as a delegation from
the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) of
Turkey wish to visit Iraq. TOBB is the umbrella organization
representing the business community in Turkey. It has 361
local chambers in which 1 million 200 thousand companies are
members. It is a democratic institution whose management is
periodically elected.

The business community of Turkey has been doing it's best to
contribute to the post-war reconstruction efforts in Iraq.
It attaches great importance to the success of this
enterprise. It believes that a high priority should be given
to the improvement of the living conditions and well-being of
the Iraqi people.

TOBB has been encouraging the business community to actively
participate in the post-war Iraqi reconstruction process. To
this end, it has organized several events to identify the
difficulties the businessmen face in doing business in Iraq.

The TOBB delegation hopes to visit Iraq as soon as possible
in order to observe the problems on the spot. On that
occasion they would like to meet you and your colleagues,
members of the Governing Council, Iraqi ministers as well as
Iraqi business representatives. Our main objective is both
to gather first-hand information and build communication
channels with the Iraqi people so as to be able to guide the
Turkish business community, contribute to private sector
development and help civil society institutions in Iraq.
Therefore we also wish to meet with the representatives of
Iraqi civil society, chambers, business associations, etc.

During this visit we would like to discuss the following
issues which we consider important to be addressed in the
short term:

a) Transport safety is still one of the main problems. Due
to the security situation, the Turkish companies whose
contracts were accepted by the UN face difficulties in
shipment. A temporary solution, similar to the one applied
in June, should be introduced. Goods should be transported
up to, for instance, Dohuk by Turkish trucks and the risks
involved taken by the Turkish businessmen while the
responsibility for the distribution of goods within Iraq will
be assumed by Iraqi citizens.

b) Operations should be restored and security ensured for
the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline in cooperation with BOTAS,
partner company resident in Turkey.

c) In order to contribute to the private sector development
in Iraq, we would like to collaborate with our counterparts
within the framework of Turkish Iraqi Business Council, in
which the Turkish participants are known, but for the moment
the Iraqi side is not performing effectively.

d) We would also like to establish a TOBB Liaison Office in
Baghdad to encourage closer relations between Iraqi and
Turkish companies.

e) We would like to visit Iraq, if possible, by a Turkish
Airlines (THY) sheduled flight. As a means for regular
contacts between Baghdad and Ankara, however, we expect THY
to resume its operations to and from Baghdad. To grant this
permission would obviously impart a visible symbolic
significance to our visit to Iraq.

f) Ziraat Bank, which is a publicly owned commercial bank in
Turkey, would like to establish a branch in Baghdad.
Granting the necessary permission to Ziraat Bank would be
greatly appreciated as a gesture on the part of your
administration.

Looking forward to seeing you in Baghdad, please accept, Your
Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

M. Rifat Hisarciklioglu
President

End of text.
EDELMAN

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