JORDAN AND SYRIA CLOSING IN ON BORDER AGREEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 009484 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2014 TAGS: PGOV PREL KMPI JO SY SUBJECT: JORDAN AND SYRIA CLOSING IN ON BORDER AGREEMENT REF: A. DAMASCUS 6559 ¶B. DAMASCUS 6096 ¶C. DAMASCUS 6046 ¶D. AMMAN 8686 ¶E. AMMAN 7201 Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d). ¶1. (C) An MFA participant in the Jordanian delegation to Damascus that discussed the border dispute told PolOff November 24 that the talks were positive and claimed, "Syria has given us our land back." He cautioned that the agreement had only been initialed by the participants in the bilateral meetings and that Jordan hoped to have the agreement signed at the ministerial level soon. The agreement is currently under consideration by the Jordanian Cabinet and is expected to be approved, according to press reports. ¶2. (U) Local press reflects the optimistic mood of GOJ officials regarding the potential resolution of the long-standing border dispute between Syria and Jordan (reftels). Jordanian Interior Minister Samir Habashneh announced November 23 that the agreement puts an end to the issue of Syrian encroachment on 125 square kilometers of Jordanian land. GOJ Spokesperson Asma Khader confirmed to reporters that the deal includes a provision to allow Syria to maintain approximately three square kilometers of Jordanian land where an estimated 1,000 Syrians currently reside. In exchange, Jordan will receive an equal amount of Syrian land. ¶3. (C) DAO septel will report a similar reaction from Jordanian military participants in the joint talks. ¶4. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. Visit Embassy Amman's classified website at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman or access the site through the State Department's SIPRNET home page. HALE