FOMIN MUASHER DISCUSSES WITH AMB. JONES "BUMPY"

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002277

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM IZ IS JO
SUBJECT: FOMIN MUASHER DISCUSSES WITH AMB. JONES "BUMPY"
JORDAN-IRAQ RELATIONS

REF: AMMAN 2198

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


1. (C) Summary. FonMin Muasher has proposed to Iraqi FM
Zebari that they form and chair a bilateral committee to
resolve irritants in the relationship. End Summary.

JORDAN-IRAQ BILATERAL RELATIONS "BUMPY"
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2. (C) In a meeting with visiting Deputy CPA Administrator
Amb. Richard H. Jones and Ambassador March 22, Foreign
Minister Marwan Muasher recounted his recent conversation
with Iraqi Finance Minister Kamil al-Kilani and Foreign
Minister Hoshyar Zebari. Emphasizing Jordan's strong desire
to cooperate with Iraq and establish good relations, Muasher
noted that a lack of specific information on some of areas of
Iraq's concern hampered progress. For example, al-Kilani
said Jordan was not being "fully forthcoming" on Iraqi assets
issues (reftel). In another example, Zebari complained about
the presence of Iraqi "intelligence operatives" from the
former regime who are spending "the Iraqi peoples' money"
living the high life in Amman. According to Muasher, when he
asked Zebari to forward the names of former Iraqi
intelligence operatives in Jordan, Zebari demurred.
Similarly, when Zebari complained about a proliferation of
fake Iraqi passports, he did not provide the information the
GOJ needed to investigate, Muasher claimed. Muasher said he
suggested to al-Kilani and Zebari the formation of a joint
committee under the two Foreign Ministers which could work
out mutually acceptable solutions to such issues, including
on assets. Jordan was keen to put these issues behind them.

JORDAN'S POLITICAL CONCERNS IN IRAQ
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3. (C) Muasher said the GOJ remains concerned about Iraq's
unity and the potential for an Iran-style government in Iraq,
and expressed support for strong U.N. involvement in Iraq's
electoral process. He also sought U.S. assistance in
providing security for Jordan's Embassy in Baghdad and its
hospital in Fallujah. The Jordanian Charge in Baghdad,
(present at the meeting with Jones),Muasher related, has
expressed grave concern over reports that some Iraqi
religious leaders are preaching that it is acceptable to rob
and kill Jordanians in Iraq. Muasher indicated that he wants
to send an Ambassador to Jordan's embassy in Baghdad after
June 30 but was having a difficult time securing a building
capable of housing Embassy operations and living quarters for
Jordanian staff. He estimated the embassy, when fully
staffed, would employ 22 Jordanian diplomats and
approximately 50 local hires.

COMMENT
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4. (C) Muasher was pleased to be dealing with Iraqi
government officials, if frustrated at the pace in resolving
bilateral issues. He requested assistance from CPA Baghdad
and expressed the hope that progress between Jordanian and
Iraq's political and economic counterparts would improve in
the future. End Comment.


5. (U) Amb. Jones did not have an opportunity to review this
cable before departing Jordan.


6. (U) CPA Baghdad minimize considered.

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