JORDANIAN REACTION TO AUTHORIZED DEPARTURE AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006878

SIPDIS

SECSTATE FOR NEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2012
TAGS: KPAO
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN REACTION TO AUTHORIZED DEPARTURE AND
PEACE CORPS DEPARTURE

Classified By: Haynes Mahoney, PAO, Reason 1.5 b and d


1. (U) Summary. Jordanian official and public reactions to
the announcement of authorized departure and the departure of
the Peace Corps are mixed. While GOJ leaders and many
businessmen express regret but "understanding" for the
decisions, the columnists and some of our contacts say they
are confused, suspicious and resentful over a move which they
believe will undermine Jordan's reputation as a safe place
for tourism and business. "Do you know what you're doing to
Jordan?" one journalist contact asked angrily, predicting
that the already troubled economy would take more hits and
for no good reason. Foreign Minister Muasher and Information
Minister Adwan tried to minimize the impact, stressing that
the departure policy is voluntary and limited in scope and
predicting that the Peace Corps' absence is temporary.
Ambassador Gnehm plans to clarify misunderstandings about the
nature of the decisions when he speaks to Jordan's Petra News
Agency today. End Summary


2. (C) Official Reaction: What You Had To Do
Senior officials up to King Abdullah (septel) expressed
regret over the conditions behind the authorized departure
decision and the temporary removal of the Peace Corps, and
repeated their assurance that the GOJ would do everything it
could to ensure the security of Embassy personnel and other
American citizens. Nevertheless, they said they understood
our responsibility to make hard choices to protect the lives
of American citizens. "You must do what you have to do," one
senior GOJ official told the Ambassador. The head of
Jordan's security apparatus, the Public Security Division,
told emboffs that he was regretful but "relieved" over the
departure of the Peace Corps volunteers, whose locations
among poor communities scattered throughout the country posed
special challenges.


3. (U) Media Grumbling
Though all major papers have prominently reported the
authorized and Peace Corps departures, mainly drawing on the
Foreign and Information Ministers' statements, press
commentary has been limited but critical. One column called
the departure policies "baseless and unjustifiable," stating
that by exaggerating threats to Americans the U.S. was taking
away with one hand the considerable aid it gives with the
other, and blaming this paradox on unidentified "elements in
the U.S. administration" with an anti-Jordanian agenda.
Another columnist complained that the measure was hurting
Jordan's trade and investment climate even before the
expected war in Iraq. Both commentaries echoed the
Information Minister's message that Jordan is one of "the
safest places on earth."


4. (U) Anxiety Levels Up, Though Businessmen Calm
Our FSNs received numerous calls over the weekend following
the authorized departure announcement in Washington, asking
whether all Americans were evacuating Jordan, and whether
this step was the first move in the anticipated Iraq war.
Our explanation that the departures are voluntary, limited in
time and would not interfere with routine Mission services
seemed to calm people somewhat though there is still a
considerable amount of anxiety and resentment over these
highly publicized events. With reports of renewed violence
in the southern town of Ma'an, Jordanians feel that the
departure of diplomats and Peace Corps volunteers will not
enhance their country's reputation or stability. However a
quick, informal poll of businessmen shows that most do not
believe the decisions will have a significant impact on their
business.


5. (C) Comment:
Most of our contacts assumed from first reports that the
decision would lead to a large drawdown of staff and a
reduction of programs. As it becomes clear that this is not
the case, we expect that the anxiety over the decision will
lessen considerably.

GNEHM