Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04AMMAN8686
2004-10-21 09:45:00
SECRET
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

JORDAN AND SYRIA DISCUSS BORDER DISPUTE

Tags:  PGOV PREL KMPI JO 
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S E C R E T AMMAN 008686 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL KMPI JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN AND SYRIA DISCUSS BORDER DISPUTE

REF: AMMAN 7201

Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).

S E C R E T AMMAN 008686

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL KMPI JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN AND SYRIA DISCUSS BORDER DISPUTE

REF: AMMAN 7201

Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).


1. (S) Summary: Foreign Minister Muasher informed us October
18 that joint Syria-Jordan border committee discussions were
focused now on possible land swaps to satisfy Syrian concerns
about the fate of the 1,000 Syrian nationals living in
Syrian-occupied Jordanian territory. The Jordanian-Syrian
committee will continue discussions. End Summary.


2. (U) Local and international Arab dailies recently claimed
that Jordan and Syria were close to resolving their
long-standing border dispute. Jordanian daily Al Dustour
reported October 15 that both countries had agreed in
principle to withdraw their forces to the demarcation line
drawn by the French and British in 1923. Syrian Economy and
Trade Minister Dr. Amir Lutfi was quoted in Arabic daily
al-Arab al-Yawm October 12 as saying that Syria's occupation
of Jordanian territory was "unintentional" and that the
border dispute would be resolved "very soon." Lufti further
stated that a ministerial-level meeting was being planned
following Ramadan (which ends on/about November 13) to
discuss the border and other issues of "mutual cooperation."


3. (S) FM Muasher told A/S Burns and Charge October 18 that
the joint Syrian-Jordanian border committee had met recently
(with more meetings to come),but that negotiations were not
complete. According to Muasher, the focus of negotiations is
on a recently raised concern about an estimated 1,000 Syrian
nationals living in Syrian-occupied Jordanian territory.
Jordanian officials see this concern as either an effort to
throw another obstacle in the path of agreement or as an
unwarranted bid for Jordanian compensation. However, Muasher
said, the committee is considering possible land swaps, to
include 2.5 square kilometers of Syrian territory occupied by
Jordan, to help prevent displacement of inhabitants in the
disputed region. Muasher said the King wanted to move quickly
to resolve the issue, while Syria is feeling U.S. and
international pressure. DAO septel will report a more
pessimistic read-out on the joint talks from Jordanian
military participants.


4. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.

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