ARTICLE 98: JORDAN EMPOWERS ITS UN PERMREP TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006926

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2012
TAGS: PREL US JO ICC
SUBJECT: ARTICLE 98: JORDAN EMPOWERS ITS UN PERMREP TO
NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S.

REF: A. AMMAN 6463

B. AMMAN 6270

C. AMMAN 5626

Classified By: Amb. Edward W. Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D)


1. (C) PolCouns on November 26 separately queried Ali
al-Ayed, personal assistant to Foreign Minister Muasher, and
Samer Naber, MFA Legal Advisor, about the status of GOJ
consideration of an Article 98 agreement with the U.S.
PolCouns reiterated our desire to complete an agreement with
Jordan as soon as possible, and recalled King Abdullah's
previous statements to senior USG officials and the
Ambassador that he wanted Jordan to conclude such an
agreement if it was compatible with Jordanian law and the
Jordanian constitution.


2. (C) Ayed and Naber both acknowledged the King's interest
in signing an Article 98 agreement with the U.S., and noted
that the King had empowered the Jordanian PermRep in New
York, Prince Zaid bin Raad, to negotiate with the U.S. They
both strongly recommended that contacts in New York continue
to move the process toward an Article 98 agreement.


3. (C) COMMENT: As we have previously reported, the locus
of GOJ action on Article 98 has moved from Amman to New York.
We understand that contacts with Prince Zaid continue. We
would appreciate any information that would allow us to be
helpful in pressing the GOJ.
GNEHM