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