Truck owners mull Iraq as alternative route to Turkey, Europe

By Omar Obeidat

AMMAN –– Owners of cargo trucks are mulling using Iraq as an alternative transit route to Turkey and Europe as just a few trucks enter Syria per day due to the turbulence in the northern neighbour.

According to Mohammad Dawood, president of the Jordan Truck Owners Association (JTOA), over the past two weeks Jordanian trucks carrying vegetables and other goods to Turkey and Europe have “rarely” travelled through Syria due to the ongoing instability.

He told The Jordan Times over the phone on Saturday that although Syrian authorities are not banning the entry of Jordanian cargo trucks through their land, owners and drivers are reluctant to enter the violence-hit country.

Dawood indicated that before the current situation, where Syrian security forces are cracking down on protesters in several areas, between 200-300 cargo trucks used to cross the border with Syria every day carrying various goods to Turkish and European markets, adding presently just a few trucks go to Syria, although there have no reports that drivers have experienced trouble in the Syrian territories.

According to the JTOA president, Syrian border authorities on Friday banned Turkish trucks laden with vegetables from Jordan to Europe to enter the country.

He said that there have been talks with the Iraqi side to use Iraq as a conduit for Jordanian trucks heading for Turkey.

Asked whether safety issues would be a source of concern for truck owners and drivers, Dawood replied that in recent months Jordanian trucks have travelled almost across all Iraqi cities without recording any security threats.

“We are ready to enter Turkey and Europe through Iraq but are awaiting a response from Iraqi authorities,” he said.

Last week, the Turkish government announced that it would be considering using Iraq as a transit route for trade with the Middle East if the situation in Syria worsens.

In regards to passenger movement between Jordan and Syria, Ikhlas Yousef, spokesperson of the Land Transport Regulatory Commission, told The Jordan Times yesterday that the number of transport vehicles going to Syria has dropped sharply over the past few months due to the situation in Syria.

The border between the two countries is open and there have been no changes in cargo and passenger transport procedures, she added, indicating, however, that Syrian authorties sometimes decide to temporarily close the border crossing.

via Truck owners mull Iraq as alternative route to Turkey, Europe | Jordan Times.