MFA LEGAL ADVISOR ON JORDAN'S "DECLARATION" ON THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006179 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2014 TAGS: PTER PREL EFIN JO UN SUBJECT: MFA LEGAL ADVISOR ON JORDAN'S "DECLARATION" ON THE TERRORISM FINANCE CONVENTION Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.5 (b) (d) ¶1. (C) Charge and PolCouns queried MFA Legal Department Head Samer Naber July 21 on the meaning of Jordan's "declaration" about national liberation movements on the Convention on the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. Naber clarified that the Jordanian statement was a "declaration" and not a "reservation" and would have no substantive effect on Jordan's implementation of the convention. He said that Jordanian law on terrorism is tied to terrorist acts against civilians and does not provide any relief or distinction for national liberation movements. Jordan's terrorism and financing laws require only a "direct or indirect relation" to a terrorist act to have effect, Naber explained. ¶2. (C) Agreeing that this declaration "looks bad on paper in Washington and at the EU," Naber argued that the declaration was aimed at addressing the political concerns of conservative and Islamist members of Parliament to assure full ratification of the convention. Once the instrument of ratification passes the Parliament, he said, the MFA can look at ways to address U.S. and EU concerns about the language in the declaration, perhaps by submitting an additional declaration. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: While Naber maintains that the declaration will have no effect on Jordan's ability to implement its commitments under the convention, we are not as sanguine on this point, and Jordanian courts could interpret the declaration differently. Even if Naber is correct, the declaration sends the wrong political message that Jordan excuses violent acts by "national liberation movements." Charge will again raise this issue with the Foreign Minister. 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