GOJ PREPARES TO SUBMIT ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT TO

UNCLAS AMMAN 001350

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: JO MARR PREL
SUBJECT: GOJ PREPARES TO SUBMIT ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT TO
PARLIAMENT



1. Two local newspapers on February 13 reported for the
first time that Jordan and the U.S. had entered into an
Article 98 agreement on December 16, 2004. Citing unnamed
"diplomatic sources," Arabic daily Al-Ghad noted that the
bilateral agreement was signed during King Abdullah's visit
to Washington in December. The revelation came as papers
picked up on Washington-based reports that President Bush, in
order to ensure disbursement of USD 250 million in economic
aid to Jordan, had waived for six months a restriction
barring U.S. assistance to countries that are party to the
International Criminal Court (ICC) unless they had
successfully concluded an Article 98 agreement.
English-language daily The Jordan Times quoted the director
of Foreign Minister Mulki's private office, Rajab Suqairi, as
stating that U.S. aid to Jordan was not in danger since
Jordan's membership in the ICC had not yet been ratified by
Parliament (and thus technically was not part of Jordanian
law).


2. During her weekly news conference on February 15,
Government Spokesperson Asma Khader acknowledged that Jordan
had concluded an Article 98 agreement, "which was required
(by the U.S.) from several world countries." She noted that
Jordan had made amendments to the original version submitted
by the U.S., including adding provisions so as not to exempt
automatically U.S. citizens of dual nationality from ICC
prosecution. Khader said that the government would "very
soon" be ready to present to the Lower House of Parliament
the final agreement for ratification. She stressed that the
ICC was a "complementary judicial system" to Jordan's
national courts.
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