Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05AMMAN2091
2005-03-13 16:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

FOREIGN MINISTER ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

Tags:  PREL KDEM KMPI LE SY IS KPAL 
pdf how-to read a cable
This 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 002091 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2010
TAGS: PREL KDEM KMPI LE SY IS KPAL
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS


Classified By: Charge David Hale, Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002091

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2010
TAGS: PREL KDEM KMPI LE SY IS KPAL
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS


Classified By: Charge David Hale, Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D)


1. (C) Jordanian Foreign Minister Hani al-Mulki convoked the
entire diplomatic corps on March 13 for what he billed as the
first in a regular series of group briefings. Highlights of
the hour-plus session follow.


2. (C) Peace Process: Mulki reviewed Jordan's efforts to
help reactivate the peace process, consistent with the
roadmap. He put some emphasis on a Jordanian desire to
reactivate the Syrian and Lebanese tracks, but acknowledged
that Israeli officials had discouraged him from pursuing this
effort, during his recent visit to Israel. He reported
Jordanian satisfaction with the Palestinians' and Israelis'
intentions to live up to commitments made at Sharm al-Sheikh.
He said Jordan hoped to revive 14-15 bilateral agreements
for cooperation with Israel that had been frozen during the
Intifada. A joint team would be formed to develop objectives
to launch this effort. Asked about intentions at the Arab
League, Mulki said the King and others believed more was
needed to market the Beirut Declaration. He said the plan
was to adopt language reflecting Arab states' readiness to
exchange peace and normal relations to Israel if 1) UN
Security Council resolutions are fulfilled, 2) the principle
of land for peace is honored, and 3) the outcome is
consistent with the Madrid process. (Comment: In response
to Charge's subsequent observation that this language
elaborated well beyond that shown to him on March 8, Mulki
said Amre Moussa had "Arab Leagued" the text, but it remained
a simple formula consistent with the roadmap. He had even
joked before the entire corps that what had begun as "Beruit
Plus" could now be described as "Beirut Minus." He promised
to pass the text before our departure for Washington. End
comment.)


3. (C) Iraq: Mulki stressed Jordan's desire to work with
the international community to support the unfolding
political process in Iraq.


4. (C) Lebanon/Syria: Mulki said Jordan has always
supported implementation of all UN Security Council
resolutions and opposed a selective or contingent approach to
international obligations. Jordan therefore advocated full
implementation of UNSCR 1559. He was pleased by recent
statements from Syrian President al-Asad and judged the
dialogue was now about how to implement the resolution, not
whether to do so. While the deployment of international
observers to monitor Lebanese parliamentary elections was a
decision for the Lebanese, he offered the personal view that
it would be better to have observers in order to minimize
controversy over the legitimacy of the results. (Comment:
He later told Charge that language on Lebanon and 1559 had
been dropped from the draft AL communique on the strength of
Asad's recent statements about withdrawal. End comment.)


5. (C) Reform: Mulki emphasized Jordan's commitment to
reform at home and the region, to include political reform.
The Arab-Israeli conflict impeded progress on reform, but
should not be allowed to stop it. He praised the fact that
each Arab state had reported to the Arab League on its
progress with reforms, and he hoped a stronger framework
would be established in Algiers for reforms. (Comment:
Earlier, he had told Charge Jordan sought AL agreement to a
monitoring mechanism, schedule, and specific performance
standards. End comment.)
HALE