Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04AMMAN1292
2004-02-19 20:58:00
SECRET
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

FONMIN MUASHER PUSHES GME, REGIONAL REFORM, AL

Tags:  PREL PGOV AL IZ JO 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001292 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV AL IZ JO
SUBJECT: FONMIN MUASHER PUSHES GME, REGIONAL REFORM, AL
SUMMIT INITIATIVE ON MEPP


Classified By: Amb. Edward W. Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (b) (d)

-------
SUMMARY
-------

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001292

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV AL IZ JO
SUBJECT: FONMIN MUASHER PUSHES GME, REGIONAL REFORM, AL
SUMMIT INITIATIVE ON MEPP


Classified By: Amb. Edward W. Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (b) (d)

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (S) FonMin Muasher told the Ambassador February 18 that
Jordan is suggesting that the Arab League endorse a set of
reform principles that go along with the Greater Middle East
initiative (GME). Muasher was supportive but expressed some
concerns about the GME, hoping that it would not impose ideas
from outside, try to avoid focusing on Islam as a problem (by
including too many non-Arab Muslim countries),and include
the President's vision of a two-state solution to give it
greater regional credibility. He also said that Jordan has
drafted a resolution for the upcoming Arab League (AL) summit
to push the MEPP forward, and which also addresses many
Israeli concerns. He claimed that he has found wide
acceptance for the resolution among other Arab states.
Muasher hopes to present the details of these ideas in
Washington in mid-March before the AL Summit in Tunis at the
end of that month. END SUMMARY.

--------------
THE GME AND ARAB REFORM PRINCIPLES
--------------


2. (S) Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher told the Ambassador
and PolCouns February 18 that he had recently argued to
Egyptian FonMin Ahmed Maher and Saudi FonMin Prince Saud
al-Faisal that Arab states must take the GME seriously. He
proposed that the Arab League endorse a set of reform
principles -- including democracy, women's rights, education,
and other key items -- that all Arab states would agree to
adopt. Doing so would give the G-8 and other GME partners
local momentum and initiatives to support. Jordan, he said,
has no problem with reform -- in fact, it is leading reform
efforts in the region. However, each country will reform at
its own pace, and not all will make the swift progress Jordan
has made. An AL-endorsed set of reform principles would fit
with the goals of the GME, give GME ideas greater legitimacy
in the region, and draw each country toward implementing a
specific set of reforms, albeit at its own pace.


3. (S) Muasher outlined three Jordanian concerns regarding
the GME. First, the GME must avoid being seen as imposed

from outside, and therefore should be structured and
publicized as a dialogue. The U.S. and its GME partners
should work with indigenous reformers and ideas to the extent
possible. Second, the GME should avoid steps that will make
people in the region see it as an attack on Islam. While it
makes some sense to include Turkey and Iran in the GME, he
argued that the inclusion of Pakistan and Afghanistan
introduces problems from outside the region and will leave
the impression that GME is focused against Islam and Islamic
societies. Third, the GME cannot ignore the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict -- the single most important
issue in the Middle East. Including as part of the GME the
President's vision of a two state solution to the
Arab-Israeli dispute would give it greater legitimacy in the
region and encourage more countries to join and support the
GME.

-------------- --
PUSHING A STRONGER AL SUMMIT RESOLUTION RE MEPP
-------------- --


4. (S) Muasher said that Jordan is developing a draft
resolution for the Tunis AL Summit in March to reenergize the
MEPP. The Jordanian draft, he said, contains four important
elements to address U.S. and Israeli concerns: 1) a
condemnation of "bombings" against civilians, 2) support for
a comprehensive and permanent cease-fire including "all the
needed security arrangements;" 3) a reiteration of the AL's
Beirut Summit initiative that lays out in specific terms the
benefits for Israel; and 4) a call for Israel to accept the
roadmap without reservations. Muasher said he had consulted
with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Palestinians, Bahrain, Kuwait,
and Amre Moussa, and described the general reactions as
"surprisingly positive." Bahrain and Kuwait, he claimed,
promised to push for GCC support for the same substance at
the upcoming GCC summit. Muasher said he had not yet shared
the draft with Syria so the Syrians would not get "a head
start" in opposing it. He would let Prince Saud present the
ideas to Syria.

-------------- -
MUASHER TO FOLLOW UP ALL OF THIS IN WASHINGTON
-------------- -


5. (S) Muasher said that he hoped to come to Washington
March 10-12 -- after the GCC Summit and March 3-4 AL Foreign
Minister's meeting, but before the March 29-30 AL Summit --
to present the set of reform principles he hopes the AL
FonMins will adopt in Cairo. He also hopes to present a
Jordanian reform plan including "specific programs and
timelines" that Jordan will commit to implementing. He said
the Jordanian cabinet should approve this plan in the near
future. (Note: Subsequent to drafting this cable, we
understand that the FonMin intends to arrive in Washington on
March 8 and is available for meetings through Friday, March
12.)

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


6. (S) Muasher will argue to his Arab colleagues that the
GME idea is gaining strength, and that Arabs should shape its
content as much as possible by setting forth principles of
reform themselves and focusing on indigenous reforms (such as
Jordan's). By gaining endorsement of these ideas in the
March AL Summit, he hopes G-8 leaders will endorse these
regional initiatives rather than presenting ideas entirely
from outside the region. Muasher, citing support from the
King, is equally committed to an AL initiative to bolster the
MEPP.

Visit Embassy Amman's classified website at

http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/

or access the site through the State Department's SIPRNET
home page.
GNEHM