Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05AMMAN1274
2005-02-16 12:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
JORDAN'S POSITION ON HARIRI'S DEATH
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001274
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2010
TAGS: PTER PREL LE JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN'S POSITION ON HARIRI'S DEATH
REF: STATE 27178
Classified By: Charge David Hale, Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001274
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2010
TAGS: PTER PREL LE JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN'S POSITION ON HARIRI'S DEATH
REF: STATE 27178
Classified By: Charge David Hale, Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D)
1. (C) Charge delivered reftel demarche to Foreign Minister
al-Mulki and Royal Court Minister al-Rifai, and spoke briefly
with the King on the matter, on February 16. Mulki said he
had garnered support within the Arab League and from Amre
Moussa to host an emergency ministerial in Damascus on
February 18. It would be used as cover to convey the
strongest possible message on the need for Syrian compliance
with UNSCR 1559. He said the Syrians had not given their
formal approval for the meeting, and Egyptian FM Aboul Ghaith
was reportedly not fully aboard as well ) the issue for him,
Mulki said, being the venue. Although the ministers would
convene under the banner of expressing "solidarity and
support for Arab states facing crises," that rubric would be
window dressing for tough talk behind the scenes. Rifai
confirmed that this initiative has palace backing. Charge
stressed to both officials that the message on compliance
needed to be as blunt as possible, that careful preparation
was needed to ensure that the ministerial did not leave a
public perception of Arab League support for Syria, and that
the Syrians should not be led to believe that improved Syrian
behavior in one area would relieve them of the need to act in
other areas of U.S. concern. The King indicated his support
as well for a tough message on UNSCR 1559 compliance.
2. (U) King Abdullah released a statement February 14
condemning the "cowardly criminal murder" of Hariri and
pledging Jordan,s support for Lebanon. He praised Hariri as
a "great statesman who made remarkable contributions to the
building of modern Lebanon and the development of its
economy."
3. (U) Jordan sent to Hariri's funeral a delegation of elder
statesmen, led by the President of the Senate and ex-Prime
Minister Zaid al-Rifai.
HALE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2010
TAGS: PTER PREL LE JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN'S POSITION ON HARIRI'S DEATH
REF: STATE 27178
Classified By: Charge David Hale, Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D)
1. (C) Charge delivered reftel demarche to Foreign Minister
al-Mulki and Royal Court Minister al-Rifai, and spoke briefly
with the King on the matter, on February 16. Mulki said he
had garnered support within the Arab League and from Amre
Moussa to host an emergency ministerial in Damascus on
February 18. It would be used as cover to convey the
strongest possible message on the need for Syrian compliance
with UNSCR 1559. He said the Syrians had not given their
formal approval for the meeting, and Egyptian FM Aboul Ghaith
was reportedly not fully aboard as well ) the issue for him,
Mulki said, being the venue. Although the ministers would
convene under the banner of expressing "solidarity and
support for Arab states facing crises," that rubric would be
window dressing for tough talk behind the scenes. Rifai
confirmed that this initiative has palace backing. Charge
stressed to both officials that the message on compliance
needed to be as blunt as possible, that careful preparation
was needed to ensure that the ministerial did not leave a
public perception of Arab League support for Syria, and that
the Syrians should not be led to believe that improved Syrian
behavior in one area would relieve them of the need to act in
other areas of U.S. concern. The King indicated his support
as well for a tough message on UNSCR 1559 compliance.
2. (U) King Abdullah released a statement February 14
condemning the "cowardly criminal murder" of Hariri and
pledging Jordan,s support for Lebanon. He praised Hariri as
a "great statesman who made remarkable contributions to the
building of modern Lebanon and the development of its
economy."
3. (U) Jordan sent to Hariri's funeral a delegation of elder
statesmen, led by the President of the Senate and ex-Prime
Minister Zaid al-Rifai.
HALE