FORUM FOR THE FUTURE - JORDAN WANTS MORE COMPANY

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 007203 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2014 TAGS: PREL ECON KMPI JO UNGA SUBJECT: FORUM FOR THE FUTURE - JORDAN WANTS MORE COMPANY REF: A. SECSTATE 177377 ¶B. CAIRO 6248 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. David Hale, for reasons 1.4 b/d ¶1. (C) Summary: FM Muasher says Jordan will attend the FFF meetings September 23-24 in New York if Egypt or Saudi Arabia are also there. End summary. ¶2. (C) A/DCM delivered reftel points, agenda and paper on the G-8 Broader Middle East Initiative Forum for the Future to Manar Dabbas of FM Muasher,s personal staff August 19. In several subsequent conversations, Dabbas and other MFA staff said Jordanian attendance would likely hinge on the participation of either Egypt or Saudi Arabia. ¶3. (C) On August 25 Charge, accompanied by visiting NEA DAS Elizabeth Dibble, urged FM Muasher to support and participate in the FFF meetings. Muasher was fully briefed on the U.S. request, and replied that, while Jordan strongly supports reform in the region, it "can,t carry" the burden of reform in the Arab world with only Bahrain and Yemen for partners. It was becoming increasingly difficult for the GOJ to publicly associate itself with an effort perceived by the Arab public as "led by outsiders." Muasher was encouraged by what he had heard about Egyptian ideas for a separate Arab League meeting (ref b.) However, to commit Jordan now to attending the FFF meetings in New York, he needed "at least" Egypt or Saudi Arabia to also attend. ¶4. (C) Muasher also voiced concern about the FFF effort "lumping together" the Arab world and other Muslim countries. He urged the U.S. to encourage the other G-8 supporters of reform to structure a separate effort for the non-Arab participants. ¶5. (C) Comment: Without Egyptian or Saudi attendance, we expect to have to appeal to a higher level to convince the GOJ to attend the meetings planned for September 23-24. HALE