JORDAN TRANSFERS $100 MILLION TO DFI

UNCLAS AMMAN 000203 SIPDIS SENSITIVE CPA FOR OLIN WETHINGTON/JOHN VARDAMON NSC FOR ADNAN KIFAYAT TREASURY FOR ZARATE, WALLWORK TREASURY FOR DEMOPULOS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN ETTC IZ JO SUBJECT: JORDAN TRANSFERS $100 MILLION TO DFI REF: 03 AMMAN 8205 ¶1. (SBU) Minister of Finance Muhammad Abu Hammour confirmed to the Ambassador January 8 that he had that day transferred $100 million from Iraqi accounts frozen in Jordan to the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. This brings the total transferred to $135 million since December. Abu Hammour has also reiterated in recent conversations that he planned to transfer another sizable sum before the end of January. ¶2. (SBU) The Minister noted that they were still waiting for a team from Iraq. They were proceeding with their coordination with Rafidain Bank on claims that actually involve that bank, which, he said was the largest number. Banking laws prohibited their sharing documents related to claims in other banks, hence the importance of the Iraqi team's arrival as quickly as possible. (Comment: A letter from the Iraqi Finance Minister delegating Rafidain to look at the others is also required.) ¶3. (SBU) Ambassador's Comment: The GOJ is meeting its commitments to transfer considerable funds to the DFI; and we will continue to follow-up. It is, however, incumbent that the Iraqi team come soon. That was our part of the understanding that we have with the Jordanians. GNEHM