Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN1665
2003-03-19 14:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

TFIZ01: FONMIN MUASHER AGAIN RAISES JORDANIAN

Tags:  PREL EFIN ETTC IZ JO 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001665 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2013
TAGS: PREL EFIN ETTC IZ JO
SUBJECT: TFIZ01: FONMIN MUASHER AGAIN RAISES JORDANIAN
CONCERN ON O-F-F SUSPENSION; NEED FOR QUICK UNSC ACTION TO
AUTHORIZE COTECNA OPERATIONS OUTSIDE IRAQ


Classified By: Ambassador Edward W. Gnehm. Reasons 1.5 (b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001665

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2013
TAGS: PREL EFIN ETTC IZ JO
SUBJECT: TFIZ01: FONMIN MUASHER AGAIN RAISES JORDANIAN
CONCERN ON O-F-F SUSPENSION; NEED FOR QUICK UNSC ACTION TO
AUTHORIZE COTECNA OPERATIONS OUTSIDE IRAQ


Classified By: Ambassador Edward W. Gnehm. Reasons 1.5 (b,d).


1. (C) During a March 19 meeting with Ambassador on a number
of subjects, FonMin Muasher raised the GOJ's concern with the
current suspension of the Oil For Food (OFF) program.
Muasher told the Ambassador that Jordan's mission in New York
has been told that shipments currently en route to Iraq must
be sent back because there is no Cotecna staff left in Iraq
to verify the arrival of the goods. Jordan has long feared
that such a scenario would have a serious negative impact on
Jordanian banks, which have financed O-F-F exports to Iraq.
(Muasher's assistant Ali al-Ayed subsequently confirmed to
Econ/C that Jordan's UN Mission has raised Jordan's concerns
directly with the UN's Office of the Iraq Program.)


2. (C) Muasher noted that its UN Mission understands that the
U.K. intends to put forward a resolution soon after
hostilities begin to revise procedures for the O-F-F program.
These would hopefully allow Cotecna to carry out its
functions in the countries neighboring Iraq. "We need that
done quickly," Muasher stressed, "its extremely important to
us."

--------------
Comment
--------------


3. (C) We agree completely with Muasher that whatever UNSC
action is needed to resume the O-F-F program be done as
quickly as possible -- both to ensure the health of Jordan's
banking system, and more broadly to facilitate delivery of
humanitarian supplies to Iraq's civilian populations.

GNEHM