JORDAN--FTA ENVIRONMENT COMMITMENTS

UNCLAS AMMAN 002652

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE PASS USAID FOR MSCOVILL
STATE PASS USTR FOR NED SAUMS
USDOC FOR 4520/ITA/MAC/ONB/PTHANOS
TREASURY FOR PIPATHANAGUL
STATE FOR OES/PCI SHIPPE, OES/ENV VALOIS, NEA/RA LAWSON,
NEA/ARN BELL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD JO PREL SENV
SUBJECT: JORDAN--FTA ENVIRONMENT COMMITMENTS


1. (U) This is an action cable; see para 5.


2. (SBU) Jordan has made some progress in strengthening its
environmental regulatory structure since signing the Free
Trade Agreement (FTA) with the U.S. in October 2000.
Specifically, seven new environmental by-laws, drafted by the
General Corporation for Environmental Protection (GCEP),have
been brought into effect. The seven by-laws currently in
force relate to:

--the organization and management of GCEP;
--the protection of coastal zones and marine waters;
--the control of ozone-depleting substances;
--the GCEP funding mechanism to combat hazardous and harmful
waste;
--noise pollution;
--financial and administrative oversight for projects funded
by GCEP; and
--Environment Protection Fund responsibilities.

Another 13 by-laws remain "in progress," according to our
contacts at GCEP. Those by-laws in that pipeline cover such
issues as solid waste management, air quality, greenhouse
emissions, pesticide use, and national parks management.


3. (SBU) At the same time, an initial flurry of activity and
discussion surrounding the creation of a stand-alone
environment ministry or cabinet-level entity entrusted with
environmental enforcement has noticeably ebbed. A new
environment law, of which a new environment regulatory body
is a part, continues to rest with the cabinet "under review,"
almost one year from its drafting. Even the Minister for
Municipalities, Rural Affairs, and the Environment Tbeishat
expressed his hope to the NEA Regional Environment Officer on
May 21 that the law would be passed "soon," although he
conceded that there is little outward sign of movement.


4. (SBU) Jordan has also yet to name its participants in the
Joint Forum on Environmental Technical Cooperation,
stipulated by the "Joint Statement on Environmental Technical
Cooperation" issued when the FTA was signed in October 2000.
This body should meet prior to the first FTA Joint
Commission, which should be held within one year of the
FTA,s entry into force. The joint statement also calls for
an assessment of Jordan,s current environmental management
capacity to be undertaken and its findings presented to the
first meeting of the Joint Forum. If the GOJ were to
formally request assistance, USAID is prepared to fund this
assessment, using a 2000 FTA-related environmental review it
conducted on Jordan,s environmental institutional and
legislative framework as a foundation study.


5. (SBU) Action request: Post is keen to advance our
bilateral trade agenda and is prepared to assist in
encouraging the Jordanians to enhance its environmental
regulatory framework. We believe that the most effective way
to jumpstart a process would be for an appropriate Washington
official (perhaps in USTR) to send a letter to a Jordanian
counterpart (such as the Minister of Industry and Trade
and/or the Minister of State for Economic Affairs),noting
our readiness to follow through on the joint statement
commitments to form an environmental forum and to conduct an
environmental management capacity assessment survey. Such a
letter could suggest a timetable and would then serve as a
basis for a potential Jordanian request for USAID assistance
in conducting the survey. Alternatively, we would be pleased
to deliver this or a similar message directly, as instructed
by Washington.
Gnehm