JORDAN WELCOMES FORMATION OF IRAQI GOVERNING

S E C R E T AMMAN 004361

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2013
TAGS: PREL PHUM IZ JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN WELCOMES FORMATION OF IRAQI GOVERNING
COUNCIL "WITH CAUTION"

REF: A. STATE 202537

B. AMMAN 2294

Classified By: PolCouns Doug Silliman for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D)


1. (U) Charge and PolCouns presented ref a points on
formation of the Iraqi Governing Council July 15 to Ali
al-Ayed, the new Director of Foreign Minister Muasher's
Private Office, and Samer Dabbas, the Private Office Iraq
action officer. Charge emphasized that the formation of the
Council is based on UNSCR 1483, that the council will have
real authority, and that it is a serious step toward the
formation of a new Iraqi government.


2. (S) Ayed noted that FonMin Muasher on July 14 had
welcomed the council in a joint press conference with Russian
FonMin Ivanov (septel). (Note: Muasher called the Council
"a positive step, hopefully towards the formation of a
government elected by the Iraqi people and that would
transcend sectarian representation." end note.) However,
Ayed continued, Jordan has several concerns about the Council
and welcomes it "with caution." First, Jordan is concerned
that 13 of the 25 members are Shia, and worries that all
decisions will be made on a sectarian basis and therefore by
the Shia majority. Charge and PolCouns responded that the
composition of the Council is meant to mirror broadly the
composition of the Iraqi people. Second, Ayed argued, Jordan
does not want the new Iraqi government to be a federation
which could encourage the future "fragmentation" of Iraq.
Third, Dabbas said Jordan would have preferred to see more
technocrats and fewer politicians on the Council. The Charge
pointed out that CPA has retained many of the technocrats
from the previous regime in the senior ranks of the
ministries. Finally, Ayed said Jordan would be concerned if
INC leader Ahmed Chalabi becomes head of the Governing
Council, reiterating Jordan's legal and political concerns
about seeing Chalabi in a leadership role in Iraq (ref b).


3. (S) COMMENT: Jordan strongly supports the coalition's
effort to create a unified, stable, democratic, and
prosperous Iraq. The caution with which the GOJ greeted the
Governing Council is based mostly on Jordanian fears of what
could go wrong -- especially a fear of the emergence of a
Shia dominated state on its eastern border.


4. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
HALE