Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04AMMAN6179
2004-07-22 07:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

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

Tags:  PTER PREL EFIN JO UN 
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220735Z Jul 04
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)

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