JORDAN LIKELY TO ABSTAIN OR BE ABSENT ON WHA VOTE

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002298

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2003
TAGS: PREL TW JO WHO
SUBJECT: JORDAN LIKELY TO ABSTAIN OR BE ABSENT ON WHA VOTE
ON TAIWAN OBSERVER STATUS

REF: SECSTATE 87649

Classified By: PolCouns Doug Silliman for reasons 1.5 (B)(D)


1. (C) PolCouns spoke May 9 with Dr. Khaled al-Tahaineh,
Deputy Director of the Foreign Ministry's International
Organizations Department regarding Taiwan's bid to gain
observer status in the WHO. Tahaineh confirmed ref
information that Jordan is likely to either abstain on or be
absent from any WHA vote to grant Taiwan observer status in
the WHO. Tahaineh said, however, that he was unaware of any
formal Jordanian promise to Taiwan to abstain.


2. (C) We note that a Mr. Shen from the Taiwanese
commercial office in Amman called us May 9 and asked for U.S.
intervention to secure Jordan's support for Taiwan's WHO bid.
We responded that we would refer the question to Washington.
BERRY