DEMARCHE ON UNSCR 1559: JORDAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003394 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2010 TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO LE SY JO SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON UNSCR 1559: JORDAN REF: STATE 78006 Classified By: Charge David Hale, Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D) ¶1. (C) Charge met with Foreign Minister Farouk Qasrawi on April 28 to deliver the demarche on the need to sustain pressure on Syria to comply fully with UNSCR 1559. Charge pointed to Jordan's strong and consistent support for the resolution; more needed to be done to ensure its implementation. Qasrawi, whose AUB education gives him a special interest in and attachment to the Lebanese, agreed with the thrust of the message, in particular the need to support free, fair, timely elections. Charge will reinforce the message with Royal Court Minister Muasher upon his return from Singapore April 29, and with the King at the earliest opportunity. ¶2. (C) Comment: Qasrawi was chosen in part because he is the reverse image of his predecessor, Hani al-Mulki. While we will not see Qasrawi make the spectacular stumbles that marked Mulki's tenure, he will also be less likely to draw attention to himself with potentially controversial statements about Syria. The unpopularity here of Mulki's demands of Syria to implement 1559 from a podium in Jerusalem, seen as gratuitous because of the venue, will reinforce Qasrawi's caution. However, we can count on palace intervention to ensure that the King's strong support for our strategy toward Lebanon and Syria is demonstrated, publicly and privately. HALE