GROUP OF JORDANIAN MP'S ASKS GOVERNMENT TO OPPOSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005766 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2013 TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ JO SUBJECT: GROUP OF JORDANIAN MP'S ASKS GOVERNMENT TO OPPOSE ATTENDANCE OF IRAQI GOVERNING COUNCIL AT AL MINISTERIAL Classified By: Amb. Edward W. Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (b)(d) ¶1. (U) Thirty two members of the lower house of the Jordanian Parliament (MPs) have sent a petition to the government asking that Jordan oppose the seating of "representatives of American occupation" -- that is, the Iraqi Governing Council (GC) -- at the upcoming Arab League (AL) Ministerial meeting in Cairo. The petition argues that the GC should not participate because the AL charter permits membership only to independent states and "Iraq is occupied by the Americans, according to UN Resolution 1483." ¶2. (U) Jordanian Information Minister Nabil Sharif told the press that the GOJ respects the MPs' opinion, but is still in consultation with other Arab states on the issue. "We want to come up with a position that is acceptable to other Arab states," he said. Sharif noted that the AL could follow the example if the UN Security Council, which had permitted a GC representative to attend a SC meeting as an observer. ¶3. (C) King Abdullah, PM Abul Ragheb, and MFA officials tell us that they will work to see GC reps seated at the AL Ministerial to speed Iraq's re-integration into the Arab mainstream. ¶4. (C) COMMENT: Since only 32 of the 110 MPs signed the petition, it is unlikely to influence the GOJ's position at the AL Ministerial. However, this and other possible Parliamentary objections to GOJ policy -- especially if phrased in populist terms that condemn "occupation" -- could lead the GOJ to be more cautious in its public support for the GC. ¶5. (U) CPA Baghdad minimize considered. GNEHM