NATO SYG VISIT TO JORDAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 000340 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2010 TAGS: PREL MASS JO IZ NATO SUBJECT: NATO SYG VISIT TO JORDAN Classified By: Charge David Hale, Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D) ¶1. (C) NATO Secretary General Scheffer briefed NATO Chiefs of Mission on January 13 on his visit to Jordan, part of his effort to pursue contacts with Mediterranean Partner countries. In meetings with King Abdullah, the Jordan Armed Forces Chief of Staff (JAF COS),and Deputy Prime Minister Muasher, he heard a readiness by Jordan to find practical areas of cooperation and to build military-to-military ties. Scheffer said the Jordanians mildly complained that the dialogue had produced more talk than action; Scheffer said this view may have stemmed from false expectations. He emphasized to the Jordanians that if asked, NATO could provide advice, especially on the current effort to enhance Jordanian border controls. What it would not provide was the sort of equipment that Jordan has been receiving from member states. The Jordanians agreed to pursue discussions, and send the JAF COS or another senior officer to Brussels to do so. In addition to border issues, the King suggested to Scheffer that he would welcome NATO advice on ways to enhance Jordan's strategic airlift capacity, as it looks to expand its peacekeeping and regional special operations capacities. ¶2. (C) Discussion also ranged over Iraqi elections, the King's views on the long-term threat posed by Iran, and emerging opportunities to advance Israeli-Palestinian dialogue and roadmap implementation. HALE