WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) FRAMEWORK

UNCLAS AMMAN 002755

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR IO/T

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC PREL JO WHO
SUBJECT: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) FRAMEWORK
CONVENTION ON TOBACCO CONTROL: JORDAN REVIEWING U.S.
DEMARCHE

REF: STATE 106632


1. (SBU) On April 29, poloff delivered reftel points and
non-paper to Ayman Aamiri, Deputy Director of the MFA's IO
department, asking for Jordan's support in the deletion of
article 30 of the FCTC as a limited amendment before final
adoption at the upcoming World Health Assembly. On the same
day, econoff delivered the same material to Jordan's Ministry
of Health. As of May 8, the MFA told us that Jordan was
still studying the materials and had not made a decision.
Dr. Khalid Takhaineh of the MFA's IO Department commented
that Jordan "would try to support the U.S. position" but
noted that "what you are requesting is very difficult as it
goes against the whole trend of international agreements
since 1995." Poloff reiterated the importance of this issue
to the USG, and again pointed to the precedent found in other
framework conventions where the approach taken on
reservations is silence. Dr. Takheineh promised to contact
us again when the GOJ makes a decision.
GNEHM