Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04AMMAN9602
2004-12-05 08:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

JORDANIAN REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE - UPDATE

Tags:  PREL MASS EAID EFIN IZ JA JO GCC 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 009602 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2014
TAGS: PREL MASS EAID EFIN IZ JA JO GCC
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE - UPDATE

REF: A. AMMAN 9151

B. AMMAN 8107

Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 009602

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2014
TAGS: PREL MASS EAID EFIN IZ JA JO GCC
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE - UPDATE

REF: A. AMMAN 9151

B. AMMAN 8107

Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Ref A previewed requests for assistance that we expect
King Abdullah to pursue during his December 6 meetings in
Washington with President Bush and others. Updates follow on
likely requests for FMF, ESF, Gulf state support, and debt
relief.


2. (C) Military assistance: Prince Faisal provided DATT
with documents describing Jordanian requests for
military aid in terms that are more detailed than past
exchanges with the GOJ. These documents have been sent to
NEA/ELA and to DoD, and post understands they were forwarded
to White House staff working on preparations for the visit.
The overall request for additional military assistance is USD
500 million, up from the USD 400 million request that has
been under discussion for a year. The revised list places a
heavier emphasis on C4ISR and border security.


3. (C) Economic support funds: Planning Minister Bassem
Awadallah, during his late-November visit to Washington,
circulated papers detailing GOJ plans for programs that would
be funded with the USD 300 million ESF supplemental
the GOJ seeks. The papers are consistent with the programs
outlined ref A.


4. (C) Iraq/Jordan border crossing: In a meeting with
Charge David Hale December 4, Awadallah placed particular
emphasis on the proposed new, joint Jordanian/Iraqi border
crossing facility at Karamah/Trebil, through which
we estimate forty percent of Iraq's imports currently flow.
Awadallah noted the December 3 double car
bomb attack that insurgents launched from Iraq against the
crossing (see septel in DAO channels.) Reports indicated
that the second car bomb, which failed to detonate, was
targeting a large fuel convoy marshaling on the Jordanian
side and preparing to cross into Iraq. Awadallah commented
that if the second attacker had succeeded, "there would
be no border crossing."


5. (C) Gulf States: In an initiative that the GOJ had not
previously raised with post in discussions of preparations
for the King's visit, Awadallah sought USG support for
Jordanian requests to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE to
renew
their concessional oil supplies to Jordan. The Jordanian
agreement with Saudi Arabia, which provides free of charge
50,000 barrels per day (about half of Jordan's crude intake),
is set to expire in April, 2005. King Abdullah was in
Saudi Arabia December 4.


6. (C) Japanese Debt Relief: Awadallah indicated the GOJ
may again ask the USG to seek to persuade Tokyo that
a debt swap for Jordan (in exchange for Jordanian forgiveness
of Iraq's balance under the two countries' trade clearing
account) serves U.S. and Japanese strategic interests.
Charge Hale noted that the USG has reviewed this proposal,
and that among our concerns is the unhelpful precedent this
would set for treatment of Iraqi debt. Awadallah's argument,
which King Abdullah may also make, is that Jordan is the only
aid-dependent state with significant Iraqi "debt", and that
the GOJ proposal is a win/win for Iraq and Jordan.


7. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
HENZEL