Turkish Minister Denies Closure of Habur Gate With Iraq
Anatolia
October 5, 2001

Ankara (AA) -- Mehmet Kececiler, state minister in charge of customs, stressed that the
Turkish customs gates are open, denying reports emanating from Iraq that the Habur border
gate has been closed.

In a statement to AA, Kececiler said that there is no question of blocking customs points or
entries and exists on the part of Turkey, adding:

"Contacts established with the Habur Customs Directorate and the Sirnak Governor's Office
revealed that there are only hitches stemming from the dichotomous administration on the
Iraqi side and the attempts of the Iraqi Kurdish Democratic Party officials to increase the
passage fees."

Kececiler added that the traffic via the Habur gate is continuing without interruption.

Some Iraqi press reports had claimed that Turkey closed the Habur border gate to property
and human traffic.
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