TFIZ01: PM ABUL RAGHEB CONVOKES AMBASSADOR ON

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 002029 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2013 TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ JO SUBJECT: TFIZ01: PM ABUL RAGHEB CONVOKES AMBASSADOR ON IRAQI CIVILIAN CASUALTIES, NEED FOR MEPP MOVEMENT REF: A. FBIS GMP20030402000301 ¶B. FBIS GMP20030403000173 Classified By: Amb. Edward W. Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D) -------------- U.S. MUST DO MORE TO PROTECT CIVILIANS -------------- ¶1. (S) Prime Minister Ali Abul Ragheb convoked the Ambassador April 3 to deliver a message on Iraq. Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher was present, and PolCouns accompanied the Ambassador. Abul Ragheb said that Jordan opposed the war and was not happy that it had started, but needed to be pragmatic in its approach. "People are angry about the war and the fact that there was no UN approval." Jordanians "love the Iraqi people," and are rightfully concerned by the images of civilian casualties in Iraq. They are therefore demanding that the GOJ do something about it. The GOJ, consequently, must ask that the U.S. and UK do more to stop civilian casualties, end the war as soon as possible, and provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi population. ¶2. (S) The final outcome in Iraq will have a large influence on how Jordanians will ultimately view the conflict, Abul Ragheb continued. Iraq must remain united, there must be no civil war, Iraqis must be able to choose their leadership, and the coalition and the international community will have to show immediate humanitarian concern. General Garner, Abul Ragheb said, is being portrayed in the Arabic media as "a friend of Sharon." This point alone, Abul Ragheb argued, could doom the legitimacy of the post-war relief and rebuilding efforts in the eyes of many Arabs. It will be important to gain UN legitimacy for post-war rebuilding and governance. "People in Washington" who do not want a UN role for post-war Iraq, "are very talented in making you look bad" in the region. ¶3. (S) After delivering his points, the PM noted that King Abdullah had given an interview April 2 to the official Petra news agency in which he had used the word "ghazu" (attack or invasion) to describe the war (ref a). This new, stronger language was meant, he said, to address the anger of Jordanians against the war. -------------- -------------- U.S. CONCERNED ABOUT IRAQI TREATMENT OF CIVILIANS -------------- -------------- ¶4. (S) The Ambassador responded by saying that the U.S. is undertaking great efforts to minimize civilian casualties. This concern is slowing the war tempo and putting U.S. soldiers at greater risk, but it is something we believe we must do. Ultimately, however, it is the Iraqi regime which is placing civilians at greater risk by using hospitals, schools, and religious sites as storage depots and refuges, and by dressing soldiers as civilians. The Geneva Convention was designed to eliminate precisely this risk to civilians in wartime. -------------- ...AND MORE ON THE MEPP WOULDN'T HURT EITHER -------------- ¶5. (S) Abul Ragheb and Muasher then launched into the need for the U.S. to reinvigorate the Middle East Peace Process following the war. The first step must be to strengthen new Palestinian PM Abu Mazen, and to convince Israel to do the same. Israel, Abul Ragheb said, must cease its "tough actions against Palestinians:" targeted killings, incursions, and house demolitions. This, more than anything else, would strengthen Abu Mazen's hand. ¶6. (S) The Ambassador said Secretary Powell and Assistant Secretary Burns are in Brussels and would meet with the SIPDIS Quartet April 3. He noted that the Secretary had also made a strong statement on the need to stop settlement activity in front of AIPAC last week. Muasher and Abul Ragheb criticized the AIPAC speech because of its "implied threat" to Syria, but admitted that the statement on settlements was positive. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (S) Only about 10 minutes of this hour-long conversation dealt with Jordanian criticism of the war in Iraq, and the criticism was largely pro-forma. Abul Ragheb and Muasher made it clear that they did not want to alarm the U.S. with this demarche: Jordan's policy would not change. Convoking of the Ambassador, and the new stronger GOJ statements of concern for civilian casualties and calls for a quick end to the war, are part of a campaign to show Jordanians that their government is taking steps to address their concern about Iraqis. Accordingly, following the meeting the GOJ issued a statement that the Ambassador had been convoked to hear the GOJ's strong views (ref b). GNEHM