JORDANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WILL FOCUS ON REFORM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001738

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2014
TAGS: PREL IS JO
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WILL FOCUS ON REFORM
PLAN, PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI ISSUE DURING WASHINGTON VISIT

REF: CAIRO 1704

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires David Hale for Reasons 1.5 (b and d)

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) Jordanian Foreign Minister Muasher on March 8
provided a visiting delegation with a preview of his agenda
for his upcoming visit to Washington. He said he will
emphasize to U.S. officials that any reform efforts in the
Middle East must be homegrown, country-specific, and linked
to solving the Arab-Israeli conflict. He said Jordan is
pushing for a general declaration of principles in the Arab
League that commits Arab states to political reform and
economic liberalization. He also intends to present his
interlocutors in Washington with specifics about Jordan's
reform agenda, including timetables to achieve certain goals,
such as legislative reform. Muasher also will be looking for
more information about Israel's reported plan to evacuate
settlements from the Gaza Strip. End Summary.

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REFORM PLANS TO TAKE CENTER STAGE
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2. (C) Just prior to his departure for the airport to catch
his flight to Washington, Jordanian Foreign Minister Muasher
on March 8 told a visiting delegation from the Air War
College that discussion of reform ideas for the Middle East
will be a top priority during his meetings with U.S.
officials. He said "we are all for reform," noting that
Jordan has taken significant, concrete steps to further
domestic political and economic liberalization. Muasher said
that during his meetings in Washington, he intends to
emphasize Jordan's "strong preference" for the initiative to
come from the region, noting that Jordanian advocates of
reform are already labeled as "U.S. agents." He added: "We
need to give the clear impression (to would-be critics) that
this is a homegrown initiative."


3. (C) In line with this, he said he plans to discuss
Jordan's support for a draft Arab League declaration of
principles that will commit Arab countries to moving forward
on key reform issues, including public and media freedom,
freedom of expression, women's rights, human rights,
education reform, economic liberalization, and judicial
reform. However, he clarified the declaration of principles
will be general, not a detailed plan. He said it is
unrealistic to expect that Saudi Arabia, for example, could
achieve the same progress as Jordan in a year's time, given
the divergent starting points. If Arab countries can agree
on this during the upcoming summit in Tunis, Muasher believes
it will be a positive first step.


4. (C) Noting that Jordan had gone much further with its
reform agenda than most of its neighbors, Muasher said he
plans to present the details of Jordan's strategy during his
meetings in Washington, including the identification of key
laws that require reform and timetables for achieving certain
goals. Muasher added that Jordan has worked successfully
with the EU on political and economic liberalization issues
since the Barcelona process in 1995, and he is optimistic
that Jordan also can work collaboratively with the United
States to advance Jordan's reform goals.

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PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI CONFLICT CANNOT BE IGNORED
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5. (C) Muasher told the delegation that without serious
efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, any
reform plan will be flawed. He said Jordan preferred the
issues to go hand in hand because any attempt to exclude the
Palestinian issue "will be faced with very strong resistance"
in Jordan and the entire region. He emphasized that regional
peace must create the atmosphere in which economic and
political liberalization can flourish. Without peace,
Islamic extremists would exploit any liberalization moves to
their own advantage.


7. (C) Muasher stressed that Arab League also must take
steps to further the peace process. He said Jordan is
supporting passage of historic Arab League resolutions
condemning violence against civilians (including bombings),
endorsing a cease-fire, and calling for all parties to
fulfill their roadmap obligations. He reiterated his belief
that a strong U.S. role is crucial to the process, and
waiting for the U.S. election season to conclude would be
"too late."


8. (C) Muasher hopes during his Washington visit to learn
more about Israel's plan to evacuate its settlements in Gaza.
He said Jordan has not taken a strong position on the matter
so far because there are so many unanswered questions. For
example, does Sharon intend to fully evacuate the area, or
leave troops behind? Where will the settlers be relocated,
the West Bank or Israel? Does this plan complement or
contradict the roadmap? Who will take charge of Gaza after
the evacuation? Muasher said Jordan is very worried HAMAS
will fill the power vacuum after an Israeli withdrawal and
use the situation to argue the "Hizballah model" worked (i.e.
that Israel only responds to violence). He said Jordan does
not look favorably at any development that strengthens HAMAS
or other militant groups.

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.
HALE