JORDANIAN MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT BACK ON TRACK?

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 007434

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR OES/ENV RICHARD, OES/PCI PAYNE, NEA/RA LAWSON, NEA/ARN
ZIADEH, NEA/PD
STATE PASS USTR NED SAUMS
STATE PASS USAID/ANE OLIVER
STATE PASS USEPA PASAREW

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: SENV ETRD PGOV JO
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT BACK ON TRACK?

Ref: Amman 7328

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED


1. (SBU) Summary. According to local press and contacts, the
Jordanian government may be on the verge of ratifying a new law,
heralding the creation of a new, free-standing, ministry of
environment. Jordanian government officials believe the new
ministry will retain the General Corporation for Environmental
Protection as its core. Enforcement of environmental bylaws
might remain an issue. Speculation abounds on the identity of
the new minister. Nevertheless, pleas are already being made by
officials for technical assistance to build the capacity of the
new entity. End Summary.


2. (U) Coincidental with the December 11 Washington meeting of
the FTA Joint Commission, at which environmental FTA issues
garnered significant attention (reftel),we began to see in Amman
visible movement on the long-stalled draft law to create a
ministry of environment. Ambassador Alia Bouran, Jordan's
representative to Brussels and the EU, noted to the USDEL at the
Joint Commission that the law was with the cabinet for final
approval, which she expected by year's end. Indications of
renewed activity on this issue locally was also reported in the
Jordanian media. Faris Juneidi, Director General of the General
Corporation for Environmental Protection (GCEP),confirmed to
Regional Environment Officer that the long-awaited draft law
creating the ministry was in the final stages of review and
comment at the cabinet and that it is expected to be ratified by
the end of the year. In a separate but related development, the
Prime Minister, while briefing the King on the Jordan First
campaign, said government efforts to protect the environment will
be crowned with the establishment of an independent ministry.


3. (U) Juneidi commented that the draft law had changed little
from its original 2001 version, but could offer no explanation
for the long delay or the apparent sudden revival. (Other
environment contacts thought the recent burst of activity was
linked to the FTA Joint Commission meeting and the desire of the
Jordanian government to meet its commitments and leverage
environmental technical assistance.) He was confident, however,
that GCEP would constitute the core of the new ministry, but
quickly added that it would not simply be a matter of "changing
the placard on the building." By his own admission, Juneidi's
organization needs significant technical assistance to build its
capacity, especially in the area of professional development of
GCEP's personnel.


4. (U) When probed about the nature of the relationship between
the new ministry of environment and other ministries with
overlapping responsibilities (such as water, health, municipal
and rural affairs, and industry),Juneidi was clear that the new
entity would have the lead on environmental issues, nationwide,
but would necessarily have to coordinate with others. He
stressed that the ministry would be full-fledged and on a par
with others. Juneidi also welcomed the dissolution of the
Environmental Supreme Council whose unwieldy size (22 members)
and composition (most ministers as well as representatives from
the NGO and business communities) he thought had hamstrung its
ability to act. On the downside, he was somewhat apprehensive
that the new ministry might lack the necessary teeth to make it a
credible player on environmental enforcement.


5. (U) Other contacts within GCEP and the NGO community also
welcomed the establishment of a new ministry. More forthcoming
than Juneidi on speculating about the identity of the new
minister, GCEP working level contacts suggested that Samer Tawil,
the current Minister for National Economy and Minister of State
(a position essentially without portfolio),might be the
candidate. Although lacking a background in the environment, he
is a close confidant of the Prime Minister who has championed the
new environment ministry idea. The appearance of Ambassador
Bouran at the Washington FTA Joint Commission, where delegation
head Salah al-Bashir, the Minister of Industry and Trade,
designated her the environmental lead for the forum, has also led
to wide conjecture. Yet, despite Bouran's strong environment
credentials and background as the lead environment negotiator
during the FTA process, many in GCEP believe that she will not
get the nod--at least at this time.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: The establishment of a ministry of environment
comes at a propitious time--the Joint Environmental Forum of the
FTA is scheduled to meet within the next few months, at which it
is expected Jordan will seek technical assistance to build the
government's capacity to monitor and enforce the country's
environment. Somewhat disconcerting is the refrain that we are
hearing about GCEP forming the core of the new ministry. While
GCEP has some positive attributes, the fear is that the ministry
will be a change in name only, hobbling its ability to develop
into the dynamic body necessary to tackle the challenging and
competing issues. It is also disappointing to hear that Bouran,
arguably the most qualified professionally and academically for
the new job, may not be rewarded. On the positive side, however,
someone like Samer Tawil, with his close links to the Prime
Minister and strong track record as a competent decision maker as
Secretary General at the Trade Ministry, could fend off competing

SIPDIS
priorities from other sectors and bring strong managerial skills
to develop a new environmental agenda.

GNEHM