Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN5499
2003-08-28 15:59:00
SECRET
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

JORDAN MAY IMPLEMENT STRICT CONTROLS ON ENTRY OF

Tags:  PREL CVIS IZ JO 
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S E C R E T AMMAN 005499 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2013
TAGS: PREL CVIS IZ JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN MAY IMPLEMENT STRICT CONTROLS ON ENTRY OF
IRAQIS

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

S E C R E T AMMAN 005499

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2013
TAGS: PREL CVIS IZ JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN MAY IMPLEMENT STRICT CONTROLS ON ENTRY OF
IRAQIS

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


1. (C) Prime Minister Ali Abul Ragheb told Charge and
EconCouns August 28 that the GOJ is actively considering a
considerable tightening of controls on Iraqis entering
Jordan, including the possibility of a new visa requirement.
Abul Ragheb said that Jordan was very concerned about the
authenticity of Iraqi travel documents, noting that "there
are new passports floating around," and the GOJ is unable to
determine whether they are valid. The Charge inquired
whether the recently destroyed Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad
would be able to accept, adjudicate or issue visas.


2. (C) PolCouns and PolOff subsequently confirmed the
outlines of an emerging new GOJ policy with MFA legal advisor
Samer Naber and MFA Private Office Iraq action officer Samer
Dabbas. Both confirmed that an August 28 meeting between
Interior and GID officials had determined that Jordan will
recognize expired Iraqi passports only for departure from
Jordan back to Iraq, but not/not for entry into Jordan.


3. (S) Naber (likely exceeding his brief, please protect)
said that it was his understanding that border officials
would not/not recognize the validity of either expired or
CPA-extended Iraqi passports. In addition, Naber said, a
preliminary decision had been made to require visas of Iraqi
travelers, and that, although visa applications and fees
would be collected at the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad, all
decisions regarding issuance or denial would be made in
Amman. The basis for this decision, he said, was a "security
directive" from the GID expressing grave concern that
undesirable Iraqis could gain access to Jordan under the
currently unclear (and much more generous) entry rules.
Naber noted that this decision ran counter to an MFA memo to
the PM several days ago that recommended approval of the
opening of an Iraqi liaison office in Amman, and
standardization and loosening of border controls on Iraqis.
Naber said that he does not believe the decision to tighten
border controls will affect the MFA's recommendation to
permit the opening of an Iraqi liaison office in the former
Iraqi Embassy. Naber said that a second meeting of the
Interior Ministry and GID -- this time including MFA
representation -- will be held September 2 to "discuss and
finalize" these decisions.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


4. (C) Given the increasing numbers of Iraqis -- both
official and private -- who are transiting Amman, a Jordanian
decision not to recognize CPA-extended passports and to
require visas could virtually shut down transit of Iraqis
into and through Jordan, at least in the short term. It
could also seriously affect the ability of CPA and newly
appointed Iraqi officials to conduct a dialogue with the GOJ.
This decision in process appears to be driven by security
concerns, and could be due partly to the large number of ad
hoc interventions of the Embassy and other organizations with
the GOJ in recent weeks to permit the entry of CPA-affiliated
and humanitarian case Iraqis with expired, questionable, or
no travel documents.
HALE