Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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02AMMAN6024 | 2002-10-17 04:59:00 | SECRET//NOFORN | Embassy Amman |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 006024 |
1. (S/NF) In a cordial meeting October 10 with FonMin Muasher, visiting S/CT Coordinator Francis X. Taylor conveyed the U.S.'s appreciation for Jordan's superb cooperation on the war on terrorism, reiterated strong U.S. interest in stopping Iranian resupply flights to Hizbullah, and said that as the international community's combined efforts to fight terror proceeds, a greater focus will center on the legal sphere. Muasher noted that, after an apparent lull, Hizbullah -- with Syrian blessing -- has once again ratcheted up its activities. The Syrians, Muasher opined, want to make sure "no one forgets them." End Summary. 2. (C) Visiting S/CT Coordinator Francis Taylor, accompanied by the Ambassador, S/CT Mark Shaheen, and Poloff, met with Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher October 10. Also present was Muasher's personal assistant Ashraf Zeitoon. -------------------------- Many Thanks -------------------------- 3. (C) Ambassador Taylor began the meeting by conveying to Muasher the USG's "great appreciation for Jordan's superb coordination with us and with others in the war on terrorism." Taylor characterized U.S.-Jordanian CT cooperation as "strong as any we have." FM Muasher responded that "we too are happy" with the level of CT cooperation between the two countries. In this context, Muasher noted joint U.S.-GOJ efforts to extradite Mullah Krekar from the Netherlands as a concrete example of that cooperation (He also characterized Dutch action thus far on the Krekar case as "not as helpful as they could be.") 4. (C) Taylor agreed that the Krekar case constituted an important opportunity, and added that it highlighted the increasingly important role cooperation in the legal sphere will play in the war on terrorism. He said that UNSCR 1373 has provided the international community the framework to tackle the threat of terrorism, and it is now vitally important for countries to put in place laws to make that happen. He underlined that the U.S. stood ready to assist Jordan in any way in this effort. -------------------------- Iranian Overflights -------------------------- 5. (S/NF) Ambassador Taylor then raised the issue of Iranian overflights and the destabilizing consequences of Iran's resupply of weaponry to Hizbullah. Taylor stressed that "this is a very, very important issue for us, and one we are raising with all our partners in the region. We want to shut it off, and get the Iranians to change their approach." He noted that visiting Washington analysts had had very useful discussions earlier that day with their Jordanian counterparts. 6. (S/NF) Muasher responded that Jordan "wants to do what we can" on the issue. He noted two concerns: (1) "that we can do this under international law," and (2) that the flights "are only over our territory for three minutes." Although stating that Jordan takes this issue seriously and would study any new information the U.S. provides carefully, he added "we think the Saudis' ability to act is much greater than ours." -------------------------- Hizbullah's Actions and Syrian Motivations -------------------------- 7. (S) Muasher noted that Hizbullah's activities "appear to be picking up again, after a lull for a while." (Note: Earlier in the day, the GID had provided Ambassador Taylor an extensive briefing on Hizbullah's activities in the region and in Jordan, and on the GOJ's efforts to counter them. End note.) The reason for this, he said, was that "the Syrians want to tell everyone not to forget them, not to exclude them. Since 9/11 they have felt nervous that their role in the Peace Process is not as it was before, and that they don't have as much power to control things as they once did. They are not happy with our role because we have kind of replaced them as the third leg, and they are also clashing more and more with the Saudis and the Egyptians. At every meeting we have with them, I end up having an argument with Shara'a -- I don't even have to open my mouth." 8. (U) Ambassador Taylor cleared on this message. GNEHM |