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