JORDAN TO MAKE JORDANIAN PASSPORTS AVAILABLE TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001384

SIPDIS

FOR CA/VO/F/P: MBTatuch, NEA/ELA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS CPAS PREL KFRD JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN TO MAKE JORDANIAN PASSPORTS AVAILABLE TO
INVESTORS -- FOR A PRICE

Ref: 04 STATE 259656


1. (SBU) Summary: The Government of Jordan intends to issue
"special case" passports to a select group of investors in
Jordan, with the primary beneficiaries said to be Iraqi
businessmen. While the passports will not confer some
rights (e.g., voting, transmission of citizenship),they
will permit the bearers to present themselves as Jordanian
citizens for immigration, residency in Jordan, and other
purposes. Though the initial group of recipients will
reportedly be limited, this "nationality-for-pay" program
has security implications should it expand to a broader
range of Iraqis and nationals of other countries. End
Summary.


2. (U) Via circular diplomatic note KT/1/338 dated 16
January 2005 (text in para 6),the MFA has informed
embassies in Amman of its intention to begin issuing
"special case" passports to non-Jordanians, conferring
"similar rights and privileges" as those enjoyed by
Jordanian citizens, with the exception of "political rights
and other issues." Contacts within the Civil Registration
Department of the Ministry of Interior (MOI) provided
additional details: these passports are to be made
available to investors in Jordan, with an issuance fee of JD
15,000 (USD 21,216). The passports will have a five-year
validity and, like Jordanian passports issued to
Palestinians, will not bear a national I.D. number because
the holders are not considered full citizens of Jordan.


3. (U) In a separate conversation February 15, Colonel
Mohamed Jariri of the MOI's Directorate of Borders and
Foreign Persons told consoff that King Abdullah decided to
make these passports available after meeting with a group of
forty rich Iraqi investors "who proposed projects in Jordan
like those seen in Dubai." Jariri affirmed that the bearers
will be accorded VIP treatment at entering/exiting Jordan,
where their new special-colored passports (white, red or
yellow, Jariri speculated) would move them quickly through
formalities. He also opined that these new passports would
be available to persons of any nationality seeking to invest
in Jordan, not just Iraqis.


4. (SBU) Comment: Based on information available thus far,
it appears the only qualifications to obtain one of these
passports are that one be rich, state an intent to invest in
Jordan, and have JD 15,000 available to pay the application
fee. It is not clear whether the GOJ intends to set down
clear guidelines as to exactly what, beyond this, qualifies
one as an "investor." While we would expect Jordanian
security agencies to vet these applications closely, this
new program nonetheless potentially offers an opportunity
for Iraqis -- or others -- to obtain a new nationality
relatively quickly.


5. (U) Comment (cont'd): These new passports may also
complicate the GOJ's response to the USG request (reftel)
for GOJ confirmation that Jordanian passports will remain
valid for six months past expiration date. Our informal
understanding from government contacts is that the GOJ will
permit Jordanian citizens whose passports bear their
national I.D. number to return to Jordan at any time,
regardless of when the passport expired. But Palestinians
and others -- like these investors -- holding passports not
bearing national I.D. numbers would not be permitted to
return after the document's expiration date. Post awaits
official response from the GOJ on its policy on this issue.
End comment.


6. (U) Informal translation of diplomatic note KT/1/338
dated 16 January 2005:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hashemite Kingdom of
Jordan presents its compliments to all diplomatic missions
accredited at the Hashemite Royal Court. The Ministry
wishes to advise that it has been determined that a regular
Jordanian passport/special case will be issued according to
Section 10 of the law of Jordanian passports. Please be
informed that all holders of this passport will have similar
rights and privileges enjoyed by regular Jordanian passport
holders with the exception of the political rights and other
issues.

The Ministry would like to request that all the esteemed
Missions accept the passport referred to above.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes this opportunity to
renew to the esteemed Embassy the assurances of its highest
consideration.

End text.


7. Baghdad minimize considered.
HENZEL