Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 51122 / 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

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 03ANKARA7452, TURKISH TRUCKERS' STRIKE OVER; FUEL DELIVERIES TO

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. #03ANKARA7452.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
03ANKARA7452 2003-12-04 15:54 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 ANKARA 007452 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB ENRG IZ PREL TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH TRUCKERS' STRIKE OVER; FUEL DELIVERIES TO 
NORTHERN IRAQ RESUME 
 
1. (SBU) Truckers delivering refined products to northern 
Iraq under the contract managed by Kellogg, Brown and Root 
(KBR) went on strike Monday, bringing badly need fuel 
deliveries to a halt and raising concerns of imminent fuel 
shortages.  After two days of negotiations, the truckers 
agreed to resume deliveries.  Loading began at 10 pm 
Wednesday evening, with the first trucks expected to reach 
the Iraqi border by midnite Thursday. 
 
 
2.  (SBU) Discontent has been rising among the truckers, who 
complain of growing delays at the border, mistreatment by 
customs officials, and growing security risks in Iraq.  But 
the final straw was a move to end a common smuggling practice 
allegedly condoned by Iraqi customs officials, who allowed 
the truckers to bring cheap fuel back into Turkey, where it 
was sold at a higher price.  The decision coincided with the 
Turkish Bayram holiday, when many truckers took time off and 
had the opportunity to discuss their grievances and organize 
a strike, which began Monday afternoon. 
 
 
3.  (SBU) The strike was very effective, almost completely 
halting deliveries.  (KBR employs as many as 3,500 trucks; 
only about 100 trucks continued to make deliveries on Tuesday 
and Wednesday.)  The striking drivers congregated at the main 
loading terminals in Mersin, where talks with the Turkish 
companies responsible for hiring the truckers took place.  On 
Thursday evening, the truckers agreed to a sizable increase 
in the fee paid for delivery.  A key point in persuading the 
truckers to return to work was the assurance of the 101st 
Airborne to provide security for the truckers in Iraq. 
Loading began at 10 pm Wednesday evening, and by 5 pm, 1,000 
trucks were loaded and on their way to Iraq. 
 
 
4.  (SBU) The immediate crisis has been resolved, but KBR's 
representative warned that truckers will still face problems 
at the border and security concerns in Iraq.  He remarked 
that truckers have demonstrated their ability to organize an 
effective strike and warned that repeated delays at the 
border, which have plagued the KBR operation, could set off a 
new strike at any time. 
EDELMAN