Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN1845
2003-03-27 08:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

VISAS ADVISORY OPINIONS: SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA FOR

Tags:  CVIS JO AL ALAMI NADIA 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS AMMAN 001845 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR STATE FOR CA/VO/L/C FROM THE AMBASSADOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS JO AL ALAMI NADIA
SUBJECT: VISAS ADVISORY OPINIONS: SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA FOR
FSN NADIA AL ALAMI

UNCLAS AMMAN 001845

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR STATE FOR CA/VO/L/C FROM THE AMBASSADOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS JO AL ALAMI NADIA
SUBJECT: VISAS ADVISORY OPINIONS: SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA FOR
FSN NADIA AL ALAMI


1. I SUBMIT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION A NOMINATION FOR A
SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA (SIV) FOR SENIOR CULTURAL SPECIALIST
NADIA AL ALAMI AND HER FAMILY. I CONCUR WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH
THE UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION FROM EMBASSY AMMAN'S SIV PRE-
SCREENING PANEL THAT NADIA AL ALAMI DESERVES THIS STATUS IN
THAT SHE HAS FAITHFULLY SERVED THE USG IN AN OUTSTANDING
MANNER, ACHIEVING UNUSUAL PROMINENCE AND EXERCISING AN
EXTRAORDINARY DEGREE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DEDICATION
TOWARDS USG OBJECTIVES.


2. NADIA HAS ACHIEVED A HIGH LEVEL OF VISIBILITY IN HER
CAPACITY AS CULTURAL SPECIALIST, ONE OF THE MAIN CRITERIA
FOR THE SIV. AS OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PRE-SCREENING PANEL
WITH LONG EXPERIENCE AT THIS POST CONFIRMED, SHE IS A WELL-
KNOWN AND RESPECTED INTERLOCUTOR TO THE JORDANIAN
LEADERSHIP. FROM MINISTERS TO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS, OUR
TOP JORDANIAN CONTACTS KNOW AND ADMIRE NADIA'S OUTSTANDING
CREATIVITY, ENERGY AND ORGANIZING ABILITY. HER SUPERVISORS
REPORT THAT OVER THE YEARS SHE HAS OFTEN PERSUADED RELUCTANT
JORDANIAN OFFICIALS TO PARTICIPATE IN OR SANCTION KEY
MISSION PROGRAMS, FOR EXAMPLE IN THE AREAS OF CIVIC
EDUCATION AND JUDICIAL REFORM. SHE IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE
OF THE BEST-KNOWN PRACTITIONERS OF PUBLIC RELATIONS IN
AMMAN, AMONG INFORMATION AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS,
ACADEMIA, NGO'S AND OTHER KEY INSTITUTIONS.


3. OVER HER CAREER, NADIA HAS RISEN TO A POSITION OF
EXTENSIVE CONTROL AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MISSION'S
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, ANOTHER CRITERION FOR SIV. FOR
EXAMPLE, SHE MANAGED ALL OF THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPEAKER,
CITIZEN EXCHANGE AND OTHER CULTURAL PROGRAMMING IN THE
ABSENCE OF ANY AMERICAN OFFICERS IN THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS
SECTION DURING THE 1990-91 GULF WAR. RECENTLY, SHE MANAGED
CULTURAL PROGRAMS IN THE ABSENCE OF A CULTURAL AFFAIRS
OFFICER FROM JANUARY THROUGH AUGUST 2002. IN THIS CAPACITY,
SHE NEGOTIATED MAJOR LONG-TERM AGREEMENTS WITH JORDANIAN
INSTITUTIONS AND AMERICAN NGOS FUNDED BY PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND
USAID FUNDS. SHE SHOWED A STRONG SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND
DEDICATION IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS, SAVING THE USG SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNTS OF MONEY.


4. IN ADDITION TO CONSISTENTLY OUTSTANDING EVALUATIONS,
NADIA HAS ALSO EARNED SEVERAL MERITORIOUS HONOR AWARDS AND
THE RUNNER-UP POSITION TO THE USIS FSN OF THE YEAR.
HER APPLICATION IS EXTREMELY WELL DOCUMENTED AND INCLUDES
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A FORMER AMBASSADOR, WHO CALLED NADIA A
"COURAGEOUS" FSN WHO IS NOT AFRAID TO DELIVER "TOUGH
MESSAGES" ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES.


5. NADIA HAS INDICATED A STRONG DESIRE TO IMMIGRATE TO THE
UNITED STATES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO COMMENCE A NEW CAREER
THERE. HER FAMILY WOULD ACCOMPANY HER: ADNAN ODEH (SPOUSE),
AUGUST 21, 1958, ZAID ODEH (SON),JANUARY 20, 1993, RAMI
ODEH (SON),AUGUST 25, 1997. ALL ARE FROM JORDAN.


6. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST TO GRANT
MS. AL ALAMI AND HER FAMILY SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA STATUS.
NADIA AL ALAMI HAS MET ALL THE CRITERIA NECESSARY UNDER THE
REGULATIONS AND HAS MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION. I EXPECT
THAT SHE AND HER FAMILY WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE POSITIVE
CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR NATION IF THEY ARE ALLOWED TO LIVE
WITHIN OUR COUNTRY.
GNEHM