JORDAN'S PM BADRAN VISITS SYRIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003503

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV LE SY JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN'S PM BADRAN VISITS SYRIA

REF: AMMAN 3394

Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Prime Minister Adnan Badran, accompanied
by his foreign and interior ministers, conducted a two-day
official visit to Syria on May 2-3. Charge registered USG
displeasure over the visit with King Abdullah and Royal Court
Minister Muasher in light of the effort to isolate Syria
diplomatically. End Summary.


2. (U) Bilateral issues appear to have dominated an
official two-day visit to Damascus by Jordan's Prime Minister
Adnan Badran May 2-3, which received front-page coverage in
most local papers. Badran, who was accompanied by Foreign
Minister Qasrawi and Interior Minister Yarfas, told reporters
after meeting his Syrian counterpart Mohammad Utri that means
to enhance bilateral relations, particularly implementation
of an agreement signed in February on economic, commercial,
tourism, and border issues, were high on the agenda. Badran
announced that he and Utri agreed to establish a "hotline to
overcome obstacles facing the enhancement" of economic
cooperation. They also discussed the Iraqi and Palestinian
situations, emphasizing Jordan's commitment to Iraq's
stability on one hand, and to the roadmap on the other.


3. (U) Meanwhile, Yarfas and Syria's Defense Minister
Hassan Turkmani signed an agreement to exchange civil defense
expertise and cooperate during natural disasters. Yarfas
also met with his Syrian counterpart Ghazi Kanaan to discuss
border issues, according to press reports. Qasrawi met with
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shar'a and "reviewed the
latest regional developments."


4. (U) On May 3, Badran met with President Bashar al-Asad.
Badran told reporters that he had delivered a letter to Asad
from King Abdullah that dealt with "bilateral ties," but did
not elaborate on its contents. Badran said that Asad invited
King Abdullah to visit Damascus, and that the GOJ will study
a Damascus suggestion to establish a "free transit zone" in
Suwaidaa on the Syrian side of the border. The two sides
also agreed to increase Royal Jordanian flights to Damascus
and Aleppo, unify transit fees, facilitate travel procedures,
and cancel residency fees.


5. (C) Comment: Oddly, Qasrawi did not mention the
upcoming trip to Damascus during a meeting with Charge on
April 28 to discuss Syria (reftel). Press coverage of the
visit did not signal whether Lebanon or enforcement of
Security Council Resolution 1559 was on Badran's agenda while
in Syria. Noting U.S. efforts to isolate Damascus
diplomatically, Charge on May 2 registered USG displeasure
about Badran's visit with Royal Court Minister Muasher. Dr.
Muasher asked that we not regard the visit as a problem
because there is no change in Jordan's policy. Rather, it
was part of the new PM's outreach to Arab states in the
aftermath of damage caused to bilateral ties by former FM
Hani al-Mulqi. Charge reiterated that the emphasis was on
isolation. Charge said that we hoped Jordan would support
this effort.


6. (C) Comment continued: During a private dinner hosted
by King Abdullah in honor of CODEL Frist on May 3, the King
pulled Charge aside to tell him that the visit was an
initiative by the new PM, because he perceived a real need to
"attend to" bilateral relationships in the region (he
mentioned that Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah would soon be
visiting Syria as well). The King said the main purpose of
the PM's trip to Syria was to follow up on a border agreement
signed earlier this year. It was in Jordan's interest, as
well as that of the U.S., to do everything possible to stop
terrorist infiltrations across that border. The Charge
underscored the importance of isolating Damascus
diplomatically, and indicated that Badran's visit was not
helpful in this regard. Regardless of Jordan's motivations,
the Syrians would use the visit as evidence that they were
off the hook with regard to Lebanon, which was not the case.
The King acknowledged our request for a strong message on
implementing 1559, but said that it would have been
inappropriate for the PM to criticize his hosts while still
in Syria. He assured Charge that Jordan would look for an
opportunity to make a public statement supporting Resolution
1559 soon. Jordan's policy of joining in pressuring Syria
was unchanged. End Comment.


7. (U) Minimize considered.

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HALE