Meeting About Opening Of A Second Border Gate Between Turkey And Iraq Starts

CIZRE - The meeting about opening of a second border gate between Turkey and Iraq started in Cizre town of southeastern province of Sirnak on Monday.
Turkish and Iraqi delegations came together in order to discuss opening of a second border gate in Ovakoy, 14 kilometers south of Silopi town, to reduce burden of the Habur Border Gate.
Three U.S. military officials are attending the four-day meeting as the observer.
The second border gate is planned to have a direct connection to Mosul and Kirkuk.
If the sides reach an agreement, a 300-metre bridge will be constructed over Hezil Stream for the second border gate to be named as ''Ali Riza Efendi Border Gate''. Turkey will construct 15-kilometre road and Iraq will construct 35-kilometre road for the new border gate. The gate is expected to cost Turkey 50 million U.S. dollars.
(UK-AY) 20.01.2004