CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001578

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2015
TAGS: PARM ABUD JO AROC CWC OPCW
SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION AND
HOST COUNTRY AGREEMENTS: JORDAN

REF: A. STATE 28853

B. AMMAN 01245

Classified By: CDA David Hale for Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (C) Poloff delivered ref a talking points February 24 to
Bashir Khassawneh, Director of the Foreign Ministry's Legal
Department. Khassawneh said the GOJ was well aware of its
obligations under Article VII of the Chemical Weapons
Convention (CWC) and was currently determining if existing
legislation (or amendments to existing laws) would cover all
implementation requirements. If not, the GOJ would move to
draft and submit to Parliament new legislation to ensure that
all offenders of the CWC are subject to criminal prosecution.
Khassawneh did not anticipate a need for U.S. technical
assistance at this time.


2. (C) Poloff also inquired about the status of the proposed
U.S.-Jordan agreement on challenge inspections under the CWC
(ref b). Khassawneh replied that the Jordan Armed Forces
(JAF) and Ministry of Interior had still not provided any
feedback from their review of the agreement, but said that he
would "breathe down their neck" to get a response as soon as
possible.
HALE