JORDAN TO HOST SPECIAL WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

UNCLAS AMMAN 002504

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON KPAO OVIP JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN TO HOST SPECIAL WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
MEETING


1. Post received original letters from King Abdullah to
President Bush, NSA Rice, Secretary Powell, USTR
Zoellick, Administrator Natsios, and Senator John Kerry,
inviting them to participate in an extraordinary meeting
of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to be held in Jordan
June 21-23. The theme of the meeting is "Aligning
Visions for a Shared Future." Planning Minister Bassem
Awadallah, who is taking the lead in organizing the
government of Jordan for this event, said that the idea
was to have a peace summit in the wake of the liberation
of Iraq. It would be different from the annual Davos
meetings in that the focus would be more on politics than
on economics, he said. Awadallah also explained that the
overall list of invitees had been prepared by the WEF
secretariat, which had asked the King to help encourage

SIPDIS
some specific high-level participants to attend.


2. Following is the text of the body of the King's
letter, which was identical for each of the six
recipients. Post has faxed copies to NEA/ARN and will
also pouch the originals to NEA/ARN for distribution to
addressees.

Begin text.

On behalf of the 1,000 Chief Executives of the member
companies of The World Economic Forum, I am very pleased
to extend this personal invitation to join the world's
leadership for an Extraordinary Annual Meeting to be held
in Jordan.

From the 21st to the 23rd of June 2003, under the theme
of "Aligning Visions for a Shared Future," world leaders
from business, governments and civil society will rally
by the Dead Sea in Jordan for a comprehensive and top
level session devoted to boosting global cooperation in a
time of extreme volatility and economic uncertainty.

Three major tracks will form the bulk of our agenda,
namely:


1. The economic and development agenda of the Middle
East;

2. The world's geo political situation;

3. The global business and economic agenda.

Commitments to actively participate in the meeting at the
highest level have already been confirmed by numerous
government and business leaders worldwide. This
Extraordinary Annual Meeting convenes the "Davos
Community" in an effort to boost a spirit of cooperation
rather than confrontation.

Furthermore, the urgency of restoring confidence in our
common future and systems of global governance, the
imperative for world business and political leaders to
lead our citizens out of the current economic downturn,
increasing the fight against poverty, rebuilding and
stabilizing the Middle East all need our immediate
attention more than ever.

Our discussions in Jordan will be followed by the world
media and should become a powerful symbol for renewing
our mutual commitments towards a peaceful Middle East and
global growth.

I very much hope that we will have the pleasure of
welcoming you to Jordan.

End Text.
Gnehm