WHO SCALE OF ASSESSMENTS: JORDANIAN HEALTH

UNCLAS AMMAN 002959

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNR PREL JO UN WHO
SUBJECT: WHO SCALE OF ASSESSMENTS: JORDANIAN HEALTH
MINISTER ALREADY IN GENEVA

REF: STATE 131497


1. (U) On May 18, A/Polcouns conveyed reftel points on the
WHO scale of assessments issue to Ambassador Musa Burayzat,
the Director of the MFA's IO Department, and requested
Jordan's support of the U.S. position at the WHA in Geneva.
Separately, econoff passed the same material to the Jordanian
Ministry of Health.


2. (U) On May 20, A/Polcouns followed up with Burayzat who
said that Jordan's head of delegation to the WHA, Minister of
Health Dr. Walid Ma'ani, had already departed Amman for
Geneva. The MFA had passed our points on to him there and
Burayzat encouraged the U.S. delegation to contact Ma'ani
directly about this issue. Burayzat noted that while the GOJ
as a rule seeks to support U.S. positions, any increase in
Jordan's WHA assessment would have budgetary implications and
would have to be reviewed by its Ministry of Finance.
A/Polcouns pointed out that the issue at hand is not a change
in the scale of assessments -- that had already been adopted
by member states in 2001 -- but rather possible continuation
of mediation. Burayzat noted the distinction but
nevertheless the MFA, after hearing Health Minister Ma'ani's
views on the subject, would have to consult with Finance
before making a decision.
GNEHM