JAZZ AMBASSADORS 2003/AMMAN

UNCLAS AMMAN 007307 SIPDIS ECA/PE/C/CU-ROUSE; NEA/PPD; NEA/ARN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: JO KPAO SCUL OEXC SUBJECT: JAZZ AMBASSADORS 2003/AMMAN REF: STATE 250221 ¶1. PA AMMAN IS DELIGHTED TO REQUEST INCLUSION IN THE 2003 JAZZ AMBASSADORS TOUR. POST PREFERS THE MAY TOUR TIMEFRAME IN ORDER TO COINCIDE WITH POSSIBLE PA PLANS TO ORGANIZE AN AMERICAN ARTS FESTIVAL DURING THAT MONTH. IF MAY IS NOT FEASIBLE, POST ALSO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HOSTING THE TOUR IN SEPTEMBER. THE IDEAL NUMBER OF DAYS IS THREE FULL PROGRAM DAYS, PLUS ADDITIONAL TRAVEL DAYS AS REQUIRED. IN ADDITION TO POST'S WEEKEND OF FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, MAY 14 AND MAY 25 ARE EXPECTED IN-COUNTRY HOLIDAYS AND THUS ARE NOT PREFERABLE PROGRAMMING DAYS. ¶2. PA AMMAN IS VERY PLEASED WITH SELECTION OF THE 2003 TOUR'S THEME OF THE INFLUENCE OF LATIN RHYTHMS ON AMERICAN JAZZ. THROUGHOUT JORDAN, YOUNG AUDIENCES IN PARTICULAR HAVE A REAL THIRST FOR ALL TYPES OF LATIN-INSPIRED MUSIC. THIS LATIN THEME WILL ENABLE US TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM WITH MAXIMUM EXPOSURE AMONG THE YOUTH AUDIENCE. PRESENTATION OF THIS YEAR'S JAZZ AMBASSADORS TOUR THUS WILL HELP US MEET COUNTRY PLAN OBJECTIVES OF PROMOTING MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE YOUTH. BOTH THE SHORT- AND LONG-TERM RESULTS OF THIS PROGRAM WILL BE A CONTINUED INCREASE IN CULTURAL DIALOGUE WITH WIDER, PARTICULARLY YOUTH AUDIENCES IN MUSLIM-MAJORITY COUNTRIES LIKE JORDAN. ¶3. SECURITY: EMBASSY AMMAN IS CURRENTLY UNDER A TRAVEL WARNING, BUT ALL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PUBLIC AFFAIRS EXCHANGE PROGRAMS, ARE OPERATING NORMALLY. PA COORDINATES WITH POST RSO TO ENSURE THAT SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS ARE MET WHEN PLANNING EVENTS FOR VISITING PERFORMERS AND SPEAKERS. GNEHM