FM MUASHER CLAIMS HANDS ARE TIED ON TERRORISM

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006439 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2014 TAGS: EFIN PREL PTER JO UN SUBJECT: FM MUASHER CLAIMS HANDS ARE TIED ON TERRORISM FINANCING CONVENTION REF: AMMAN 6179 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires David Hale for Reasons 1.5 (b),(d) (C) Charge reviewed with Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher on July 29 the Department's negative reaction, shared by many EU countries, to Jordan's reservation on national liberation movements on the Convention of the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. Muasher replied that the treaty was currently before the legal committee of the Jordanian Parliament and that the GOJ risked ratification if it attempted to make any changes to the treaty at this time. He further said that Jordan would reverse its "declaration" by adding another declaration after ratification. Muasher was very concerned that Jordan might be perceived as somehow making exceptions for national liberation movements, although he admitted that the declaration did exactly this. Charge responded that the U.S. was likely to register an objection formally. He hoped that Jordan would withdraw its reservation as soon as possible. HALE