Iraqi corruption cause great problems to Syrian truck drivers
Syria-Iraq, Economics, 8/10/2005

Syrian truck drivers coming from Iraq via the Ya'arubiya border crossing point said that they suffered problems where they were delayed for up to three weeks in Iraqi customs parking lots without any logical reasons.

The drivers said that American forces at the Ya'arubiya border crossing point act discriminately with Syrian trucks to deliberately block their transit into Syria. Non-Syrian drivers pointed out that such procedures may be taken to force drivers to pay bribes and cash payments.

Driver Ahmad Nahlawi spoke about the problems on the border, saying that trucks were ordered to unload in Iraqi territories and drivers were left for periods that could extend for days without food or drink or contact with their families and relatives.

Driver Abdul Razzak Saffan said there were other forms of problems such as depriving drivers who cross into Syria from buying their daily needs of food and drinks.

Ridwan al-Said, another driver, said Syrian drivers have for weeks been suffering at Ya'arubiya border crossing point. He added that in addition to the obstacles and high costs of items, every step needed by the drivers required paying bribes, and those who are not able to pay are forced to stay on the Iraqi side of the borders.

Such complaints were subject of talks on Monday between customs officials from both sides at Ya'arubiya border crossing point.

Director of the Syrian Hassaka Customs Service, Shihada Hussein, said after a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart and Director of Rubeia' border complex that there were about 700-800 Syrian empty trucks blocked for a long time under difficult conditions, where their drivers are suffering a lot and are isolated.

Hussein added that he met Iraqi customs officials but they offered no clear response about why they blocked the Syrian trucks. He stressed that security justifications for the Iraqi procedures were weak and totally unfounded because Syrian drivers who carry goods to Iraq didn't smuggle anything or breach security.

He said that the American forces which control Iraqi border crossing points were responsible for the delay in the movement of Syrian trucks and their long delays in Rubeia' town.

Meanwhile, away from the border obstacles at Ya'arubiya border crossing point which started to ease Monday evening with the crossing of about 100 Syrian trucks, Syrian Customs Service began to expand Ya'arubiya Customs Department to make room for potential future momentum in mutual transit between the two states.

Director General of the Syrian Customs Service, Bassel Sannoufa, said the expansion and rehabilitation work at Ya'arubiya include building three 135,000-meter-customs complexes at a cost of 114 million Syrian pounds for the area's infrastructures.

He added that this expansion comes at a time as the Abu Kamal Border Crossing point has been closed, creating more pressure on the two crossing points of Tanf and Ya'arubiya. Sannoufa said these steps were part of an over-all rehabilitation plan covering all Syrian border points, including Airport and Adra Customs facilities as well as Lattakia and Tartouss ports.

Previous Stories:
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  Syrian official criticizes Iraqi defense minister statements   (7/28/2005)
  Syrian aid convoy heads to Iraq   (7/25/2005)
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