IRAQ/UNSC: DEMARCHE ON JORDANIAN FLIGHTS TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 004180 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2012 TAGS: PREL ETTC JO IZ SUBJECT: IRAQ/UNSC: DEMARCHE ON JORDANIAN FLIGHTS TO BAGHDAD DELIVERED; GOJ SAYS FREQUENCY HAS DECREASED REF: (A) STATE 141384 (B) STATE 112154 Classified By: Charge Gregory L. Berry. Reasons 1.5 (b,d). ¶1. (C) On July 29, Charge delivered ref A points regarding the frequency and regularity of Royal Jordanian Airlines' Baghdad flights to Ali Al-Ayed, personal aide to Foreign Minister Muasher. Al-Ayed said that, in response to our earlier demarche, the number of flights per week had dropped, and he characterized this as "a downward trend." (Note: According to our count, there were four flights in each of the last two weeks, significantly down from previous weeks.) The Charge welcomed the reduction, but noted that flight frequency had shown a tendency to creep up in the past. He said we would need to stay alert to the issue. Berry