PARTIAL JORDANIAN DOMESTIC REFORM PLAN IN DRAFT,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 002729

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2014
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM ECON KMDR JO
SUBJECT: PARTIAL JORDANIAN DOMESTIC REFORM PLAN IN DRAFT,
BUT NOT YET APPROVED

REF: AMMAN 1110

Classified By: Ambassador Edward Gnehm for reason 1.5 (d)

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SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) The Jordanians are continuing their efforts to give
the reform effort a local flavor, in both the regional and
their domestic agendas. Jordan is already a regional leader
in innovative economic reform and liberalization. The GOJ
itself has recently been more forward leaning in its calls
for political reform and has created a draft domestic plan
that reflects the efforts of its most progressive members.
During his recent visit to Washington, FM Muasher distributed
copies of this plan. While the ministries of Foreign Affairs
and Justice and the Higher Media Council have contributed
specific objectives and recommended actions to build on the
extensive economic and educational reforms undertaken in the
last four years, other ministries' contributions to the
document -- in contrast to their actual performance -- are
more general and less dynamic. GOJ officials tell us that
the Cabinet has discussed, but not yet approved, the reform
plan. END SUMMARY.

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REFORM PLANS
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2. (C) During FM Marwan Muasher,s visit to Washington early
in March, he provided the Secretary and other USG officials
with the 34-page &Government Plan for Political Reform in
Jordan.8 It contains key strategic objectives in areas
including freedoms of press and assembly, empowerment of
women, development of political parties, judicial and
educational reform, and growth of civil society. The plan
includes a detailed judicial reform strategy and a
comprehensive listing of required steps for ratification of
many (but not all) international agreements dealing with
human rights. Objectives for political reforms, however, are
described only in general terms with no real timelines or
plan of action. In addition, the GOJ has prepared a draft
revision to the law governing the print press and is working
on a new set of proposals to liberalize the broadcast media
that are to be presented soon to the Parliament, according to
GOJ and press contacts.


3. (C) Post has reviewed the document and discussed it with
GOJ contacts, who indicate that it does not yet reflect a
cabinet consensus. Despite recent press reports that led
readers to believe that there had been cabinet action, the
Prime Ministry's director of legislative affairs, Ali
Hindawi, confirmed to us on April 8 that the plan is still
under discussion in the Cabinet and has not gotten final
Cabinet approval. A senior MFA official told us that the
document as currently constituted reflects the views of a few
key reform-minded ministers in the sphere of politics. Among
these are FM Marwan Muasher and Justice Minister Salah
al-Bashir, whose ministries expended considerable effort in
contributing to the plan, as well as Government Spokeswoman
Asma Khader. The powerless Ministry of Political Development
and Parliamentary Affairs, on the other hand, did not seem to
have given serious thought to how or when it intends to
implement most political reforms -- reforms which in any
event are driven by the Palace, not the Ministry.


4. (U) Having acceded to the WTO in 2000, joined other
international economic conventions, and enacted dozens of
economic reform laws to meet those and bilateral FTA
commitments, Jordan is already a model of economic reform in
the region. The planned political and judicial reforms would
have the added benefit of promoting higher-end economic
reforms in critical areas such as IPR. Similarly, the GOJ
has demonstrated impressive commitment to education reform.
Supported by a number of donors including USAID, UNESCO has
termed Jordan's "a model education reform program."

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THE GOJ SPEAKS OUT
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5. (C) While visiting Turkey in March, King Abdullah repeated
a strong call for reform in the region, but focused on
reforms initiated from within the Arab world. He warned that
&if we fail to sign a (reform) deal(at the Tunis summit, we
will unfortunately face impositions by the international
community(and pressure from outside can only have negative
impacts.8 In the last few weeks, cabinet members including
Prime Minister Faisal al-Fayez, FonMin Muasher, Spokesperson
Asma Khader and others have made similar calls for political
reform from within. Paradoxically, the Foreign Minister told
visiting NSC officials March 31 that the delay of the Arab
Summit will likely strengthen those who want to pass a reform
agenda.

6. (U) On the domestic front, in mid-March the Arabic daily
Al-Ra,i published a lengthy interview with al-Fayez, who
stressed that the government was not dragging its feet on
reform and stated that Jordan,s domestic reform plan is
&more or less ready,8 though still under discussion by the
cabinet. He mentioned his intent to draft new election and
political parties laws, as well as promote increased
participation in the political process by women and youth.
Al-Fayez said &we no longer want a silent majority in
Jordan.8

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THE VIEW OF THE PRESS
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7. (SBU) Press commentary continues to be skeptical, even
alarmist when the reform issue is defined as a result of U.S.
pressure. Those commentators known to support reform have
been cautious about embracing the government's proclaimed
reform agenda (see reftel). Uncertain of where the King's
reform red lines are drawn, the press and reform supporters
are content for now to let him and the government take the
lead, rather than expose themselves.

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COMMENT
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8. (C) The document presented to the Secretary is designed to
capture ongoing, home-grown reforms and show that Jordan is
ahead of U.S. reform objectives for the region. It is
consistent with and supportive of numerous pronouncements by
the King directing his government to move forward on reform.
The GOJ has also tried to position itself at the leading edge
of the reform curve in the region.


9. (C) While it is clear that economic and judicial, and to a
lesser extent press/media, reforms are moving ahead,
political reform is slower and much less clear. Formal
cabinet approval of the plan was supposed to have been
secured at several points over the past month, but not all
has gone as one might have expected. Tension between the
very conservative Parliament and reformist cabinet is ever
present, though when all is said and done, PM al-Fayez is
also a traditionalist. Advancing real further political
reform will require forceful Palace leadership.

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GNEHM