FM MULKI ON SHARM FOLLOW-UP, ARAB LEAGUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 000216 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2010 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID JO IZ SUBJECT: FM MULKI ON SHARM FOLLOW-UP, ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL, GULF OIL REF: A. STATE 5042 ¶B. 04 STATE 275413 Classified By: Charge David Hale, Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D) ¶1. (C) Charge reviewed the demarche (ref a) on the January 11 Sharm Conference Follow-up Meeting with Foreign Minister al-Mulki on January 10. Advised by Egyptian FM Abdul Ghaith that his presence at the ambassadors-level meeting was not necessary, Mulki is sending Jordan's Ambassador to Egypt, Omar al-Rifai(Mulki will be present at the January 12 Arab League Extraordinary Foreign Ministerial). Mulki said he had already instructed Rifai to ensure that the conference hewed to the line taken in the Iraq neighbors' conference statement, particularly on elections. Charge emphasized the need to focus as well on support for the new institutions emerging after the elections. Mulki undertook to press our same demarche points with colleagues. He was leaving January 10 with PM al-Fayez on a trip to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait. ¶2. (C) In Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the Jordanians will be following up on their request for continued oil concessions or monetary assistance. Charge reviewed delivery of the U.S. demarche (ref b) in this regard, and Mulki expressed his appreciation. However, he said the Jordanians had learned that the UAE had decided to decline the request and, in order to avoid any embarrassment, was reportedly lobbying Kuwait to join them. Mulki suggested we find a way to tell Emirati officials that "they may not want to dance, but they shouldn't turn off the music," i.e., stop lobbying the Kuwaitis. HALE