NO TALK OF KUWAITI OIL IN JORDAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 004698

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ARN, NEA/ARP
TEL AVIV FOR DCM LEBARON
RIYADH FOR TUELLER
TUNIS FOR NATALIE BROWN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2014
TAGS: PREL EFIN IZ KU JO
SUBJECT: NO TALK OF KUWAITI OIL IN JORDAN

REF: A. AMMAN 04670


B. KUWAIT 01812

Classified By: AMB EDWARD GNEHM, JR., REASONS 1.5 (b) and (d)




1. (C) REF B requested Embassy Amman's readout on a
reported Jordanian claim of an understanding regarding
Kuwaiti provision of oil to Jordan. In the Ambassador's
recent discussions with the King, the Prime Minister and the
Finance Minister (Ref A),we have heard no claims of a
Kuwaiti promise to provide oil to Jordan. The Prime Minister
specifically said oil did not come up. We do not know the
basis for the Kuwaiti media report citing the King.


2. (C) As Ref A reported, the Finance Minister did say
there were quiet discussions under way involving possible
financial support to Jordan by Kuwait and the UAE. The
support would consist of a grant/soft loan of $1 billion
covering a period of three years but with the transfer of the
total sum coming at the beginning of the period. The Finance
Minister asked that this information be closely held.


3. (C) COMMENT: The only current grant of oil for Jordan
we are aware of is the 50,000 barrel/day grant from Saudi
Arabia announced recently, to the dismay of both the Saudis
and the Jordanian Finance Minister (Ref A).
GNEHM