JORDAN - NEW FM ON ARTICLE 98

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 008866

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR IZ JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN - NEW FM ON ARTICLE 98


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. David Hale, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) During an introductory call October 27 on
newly-appointed Foreign Minister Hani Al-Mulki,
Charge raised the high priority the USG places on
finalizing an Article 98 agreement. Charge noted
that the GOJ had been considering A/S Bloomfield's
letter, and expressed his view that the two
governments were very close to agreement.


2. (C) Al-Mulki confessed that he was aware of
the letter but had not had time to "digest" it
since his appointment. He offered to meet again
with Charge after returning from Egypt on/about
November 7, and to provide an informed response.


3. (C) In a subsequent meeting, Ali Al-Ayed,
director of the minister's private office, told
Charge that Al-Mulki might consider re-engaging
with the USG on this issue through either the
Jordanian EMBASSY in Washington, or through
Jordanian UN PermRep Prince Zaid Bin Ra'ad,
rather than doing so personally. Zaid recently
resigned as President of the Assembly of States
Parties to the International Criminal Court,
which may possibly make him personally more
flexible on the draft text than he has been to
date.
HALE