DEMARCHE IN ADVANCE OF ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002217 SIPDIS STATE ALSO FOR PRM E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2015 TAGS: PREL KPAL SY LE IZ JO ICRC SUBJECT: DEMARCHE IN ADVANCE OF ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT REF: A. STATE 45505 ¶B. CAIRO 1759 ¶C. AMMAN 1945 ¶D. AMMAN 1651 Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES CHRISTOPHER HENZEL. REASON: 1.4 (B) ¶1. (C) CDA made ref A points March 16 to Foreign Ministry Secretary General Abdullah Madadha (FM Mulki and his private SIPDIS office staff are in the U.S. with King Abdullah.) -- On Syria/Lebanon, Madadha said Jordan would continue to press for immediate Syrian withdrawal, and would also use the opportunity of meetings on the margins of the upcoming Arab League summit to reiterate this point to the SARG. Madadha noted some Arab governments have criticized Jordan for publicly taking too hard a line on Syrian withdrawal, an apparent reference to Egypt (ref B). He said the GOJ,s public position would be in keeping with recent public statements by FM Mulki and the King. (In a March 15 interview with ABC News anchor Peter Jennings, King Abdullah said that the Syrians "obviously have a problem with the international community" with respect to UNSCR 1559, and that he hoped for a full and "smooth" Syrian withdrawal.) -- On Israeli-Palestinian affairs, Madadha said the GOJ would continue to urge other Arab governments to expand or restore official ties with Israel. -- On Iraq, Madadha said the GOJ would support efforts at the summit to welcome the Transitional National Assembly, and quickly recognize a transitional government. ¶2. (SBU) On the issue of admitting Magen David Adom (MDA) to the International Red Cross/Red Crescent movement, Madadha agreed the current regional environment presented an opportunity to revisit the issue. He said he would convey to the Jordanian mission in Geneva a recommendation that it urge the Swiss to convene a new international conference. HENZEL