DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON POSSIBLE HIZBALLAH RESUPPLY

S E C R E T AMMAN 006610

SIPDIS

NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/11/2012
TAGS: PREL PTER JO LE SY IR
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON POSSIBLE HIZBALLAH RESUPPLY
FLIGHT

REF: A. SECSTATE 225699 B. RIYADH 07422

Classified By: AMBASSADOR EDWARD W. GNEHM FOR REAPONS 1.5 (B),(C),AND
(D)


1. (S/NF) DCM delivered Ref A demarche on November 9 to Ali
al-Ayad, personal assistant to FONMIN Muasher. Ali promised
to provide the information to the appropriate people in the
GOJ and asked for further details on the flight as soon as
they are available. DCM also provided the text of the
demarche to ORCA for follow-up in other channels.


2. (S/NF) The Ambassador took up the issue with GID Director
Sa'ad Kheir on November 11. Kheir pointed out that Saudi
Arabia was by far the best placed to deal with the problem.
That said, if there were clear evidence that a specific
flight was transporting arms, Kheir said, Jordan would insist
on inspecting the aircraft as a matter of course. He noted,
however, that the Turks had forced an Iranian plane to land,
only to discover that it was carrying "vegetables." The
already touchy Jordanian-Iranian relationship did not need
that kind of embarrassment.


3. (S/NF) Comment: The Jordanians are pleased that Saudi
Arabia denied overflight (ref B) and will continue to argue
that, on purely practical grounds, we should focus on Saudi
Arabia for such requests in the future.
GNEHM