MEPI ROLLOUT PLAN

UNCLAS AMMAN 004986

SIPDIS

NEA/RA-SFRANCESKI, NEA/PPD-CBOURGEOIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP EFIN ECON PREL XF KPAO JO
SUBJECT: MEPI ROLLOUT PLAN

REFTEL: SECSTATE 162118


1. POST PLANS TO HIGHLIGHT SECRETARY POWELL'S
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MEPI INITIATIVE WITH A SERIES OF
RELATED ACTIVITIES TARGETED FOR JORDAN'S BUSINESS,
INTELLECTUAL AND NGO ACTIVISTS AS WELL AS LOCAL MEDIA.


2. IF POSSIBLE, WE WOULD BE READY TO CONDUCT A "PRE-
BRIEF" FOR A SELECTED GROUP OF SENIOR EDITORS
IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE SPEECH, TO FAMILIARIZE THEM
WITH THE KEY CONCEPTS OF THE MEPI INITIATIVE. THIS
WOULD HELP TO ENSURE THAT THE CRITICAL INITIAL
REPORTING IS INFORMED AND BALANCED.


3. PA WILL MAKE SPEECH TEXTS AND RELATED MATERIALS
AVAILABLE VIA THE EMBASSY WEBSITE AND VIA DIRECT
DISTRIBUTION TO CONTACTS.


4. PA WILL REQUEST A DVC WITH A SENIOR US OFFICIAL TO
DISCUSS THE PRACTICAL POSSIBILITIES OF MEPI WITH
JORDANIAN NGOS, THINK TANKS, ACADEMICS, MEMBERS OF THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND SELECTED JOURNALISTS.


5. SELECTED EMBASSY OFFICIALS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR
"BACKGROUND BRIEFINGS" ON THE MEPI INITIATIVE.


6. PA WILL COORDINATE WITH AID AND OTHER APPROPRIATE
ORGANIZATIONS TO PREPARE FACT SHEETS ON CURRENT US
ASSISTANCE TO JORDAN AND HOW IT SUPPORTS MEPI'S
OBJECTIVES, AND TO HIGHLIGHT EXISTING "SUCCESS STORIES"
RESULTING FROM ONGOING PARTNERSHIPS ON BUSINESS, MICRO-
FINANCE, E-GOVERNMENT AND INTERNET INITIATIVES PLUS
EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES SUCH AS FULBRIGHT, AND RELATED
PROJECTS.


7. WE WILL SUGGEST ONE OR MORE PUBLIC EVENTS,
INCLUDING LOCAL PRESS, DURING DAS CHENEY'S UPCOMING
VISIT TO AMMAN, IN WHICH MEPI CAN BE PUBLICIZED.

BERRY