Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN7578
2003-11-20 17:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
FONMIN MUASHER ON STATUS OF ARTICLE 98 NEGOTIATIONS
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 201712Z Nov 03
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 007578
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR PM - BBODINE, NEA, AND NEA/ARN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS JO
SUBJECT: FONMIN MUASHER ON STATUS OF ARTICLE 98 NEGOTIATIONS
Classified By: Amb. Edward W. Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (b) (d)
--------------------------------------------- ---
WORKING SERIOUSLY TOWARD AN ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT
--------------------------------------------- ---
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 007578
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR PM - BBODINE, NEA, AND NEA/ARN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS JO
SUBJECT: FONMIN MUASHER ON STATUS OF ARTICLE 98 NEGOTIATIONS
Classified By: Amb. Edward W. Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (b) (d)
-------------- ---
WORKING SERIOUSLY TOWARD AN ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT
-------------- ---
1. (C) Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher told the Ambassador
November 19 that Jordan wants to conclude an Article 98
agreement with the U.S., and that he has instructed Jordanian
UN PermRep Prince Zaid bin Raad to be "as flexible as
possible" in working out bridging language between the U.S.
and Jordanian drafts. He said he understands that Prince
Zaid and the Jordanian Mission in New York are in nearly
daily contact with USUN and/or Washington, and asked Prince
Zaid to follow up with a revised draft before the next
negotiating session on November 26.
2. (C) Muasher said that Jordan has two concerns that it is
trying to address in negotiations. First, Jordan wants to
make sure that the agreement does not conflict in any way
with its obligations as a signatory of the Rome Statute.
Given this concern, as well as Jordan's chairmanship of the
ICC member states group, he argued, Jordan cannot sign the
same type of agreement as non-ICC members. Second, Jordan
cannot agree to language which might make it more difficult
to prosecute individuals associated with forced population
transfer, "an existential issue" for Jordan.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) Muasher expressed a serious desire to sign an
Article 98 agreement as soon as possible, and we are pleased
that he has instructed Prince Zaid to be flexible on bridging
language. His rhetoric was firm, however, on his
determination not to sign an agreement with language that did
not protect the two Jordanian interests mentioned above.
Given the short time before the King arrives in Washington
(December 3),coupled with the intervening Eid holidays, it
may be difficult to reach an agreement before the King meets
the President; but the Foreign Minister pledged to be
available -- even during a planned vacation -- if the
Ambassador needed to reach him to resolve any issues that
might arise.
Visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/
or access the site through the State Department's SIPRNET
home page.
GNEHM
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR PM - BBODINE, NEA, AND NEA/ARN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS JO
SUBJECT: FONMIN MUASHER ON STATUS OF ARTICLE 98 NEGOTIATIONS
Classified By: Amb. Edward W. Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (b) (d)
-------------- ---
WORKING SERIOUSLY TOWARD AN ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT
-------------- ---
1. (C) Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher told the Ambassador
November 19 that Jordan wants to conclude an Article 98
agreement with the U.S., and that he has instructed Jordanian
UN PermRep Prince Zaid bin Raad to be "as flexible as
possible" in working out bridging language between the U.S.
and Jordanian drafts. He said he understands that Prince
Zaid and the Jordanian Mission in New York are in nearly
daily contact with USUN and/or Washington, and asked Prince
Zaid to follow up with a revised draft before the next
negotiating session on November 26.
2. (C) Muasher said that Jordan has two concerns that it is
trying to address in negotiations. First, Jordan wants to
make sure that the agreement does not conflict in any way
with its obligations as a signatory of the Rome Statute.
Given this concern, as well as Jordan's chairmanship of the
ICC member states group, he argued, Jordan cannot sign the
same type of agreement as non-ICC members. Second, Jordan
cannot agree to language which might make it more difficult
to prosecute individuals associated with forced population
transfer, "an existential issue" for Jordan.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) Muasher expressed a serious desire to sign an
Article 98 agreement as soon as possible, and we are pleased
that he has instructed Prince Zaid to be flexible on bridging
language. His rhetoric was firm, however, on his
determination not to sign an agreement with language that did
not protect the two Jordanian interests mentioned above.
Given the short time before the King arrives in Washington
(December 3),coupled with the intervening Eid holidays, it
may be difficult to reach an agreement before the King meets
the President; but the Foreign Minister pledged to be
available -- even during a planned vacation -- if the
Ambassador needed to reach him to resolve any issues that
might arise.
Visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/
or access the site through the State Department's SIPRNET
home page.
GNEHM