MEPI ELECTION ASSISTANCE FOR JORDAN

UNCLAS AMMAN 001855 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR STATE NEA ATTN. LIZ CHENEY, NEA/PPD, NEA/RA NEA/ARN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN ECON EAID PREL KDEM SCUL KPAO XF JO SUBJECT: MEPI ELECTION ASSISTANCE FOR JORDAN REF: ZIADEH/SILLIMAN EMAIL (3-26); AMMAN 01650 ¶1. (SBU) IN THE COURSE OF A COURTESY CALL BY THE NEW USAID DIRECTOR AND THE AMBASSADOR ON MARCH 27, THE AMBASSADOR DISCUSSED WITH PLANNING MINISTER BASSAM AWADALLAH THE PROPOSED $400,000 MIDDLE EAST PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE (MEPI) ELECTION ASSISTANCE. THE PROJECT IS TO BE CARRIED OUT IN COOPERATION WITH THE CONSORTIUM FOR ELECTORAL AND POLITICAL PROCESS STRENGTHENING (CEPPS). THE MINISTER, WHOSE SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL FOR THIS PROJECT BECAUSE OF ITS POTENTIAL POLITICAL SENSITIVITY IN THIS DIFFICULT PERIOD, AGREED WITH THE PROPOSAL IN PRINCIPLE, BUT EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSULTING CLOSELY WITH THE GOJ ON ITS IMPLEMENTATION. ¶2. (SBU) THE AMBASSADOR AND THE MINISTER AGREED THAT THEY WOULD MEMORIALIZE THEIR AGREEMENT BY COUNTER SIGNED IMPLEMENTATION LETTER EARLY NEXT WEEK TO ENSURE THAT THE MISSION AND THE PLANNING MINISTRY ARE KEPT FULLY APPRISED OF THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ELECTION PROJECT. THE PROJECT WILL CONSIST OF TRAINING FOR CANDIDATES AND CAMPAIGN MANAGERS, PARTICULARLY FOR FEMALE CANDIDATES, AS WELL AS THE STRENGTHENING OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND NGO'S INVOLVED IN ADVOCATING ISSUES AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE ELECTION PROCESS. ¶3. (SBU) THE MISSION LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH NEA AND CEPPS, THE GRANTEE, IN THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROJECT. WE SUGGEST THAT IF THE $400,000 IS APPROVED, THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS AMMAN, IN COORDINATION WITH THE MISSION'S INTERAGENCY MEPI COMMITTEE, TO WORK WITH THE GRANTEE CEPPS TO DRAW UP A WORKPLAN LEADING UP TO THE JUNE ELECTIONS. ¶2. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH NEA ON THIS IMPORTANT FORM OF SUPPORT FOR JORDAN'S ELECTIONS, POSSIBLY THE FIRST MAJOR ELECTIONS IN THE REGION AFTER THE LIBERATION OF IRAQ AND AN IMPORTANT BENCHMARK FOR THE MEPI INITIATIVE.