WCO FRAMEWORK OF STANDARDS TO SECURE AND

UNCLAS AMMAN 004759 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE PASS TO USTR - MATT RHODE DHS/CBP FOR ALLISON LEVY STATE FOR NEA/PI, NEA/ELA, EB/TPP/MTA - ANDREW DILWORTH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD PREL JO CTM SUBJECT: WCO FRAMEWORK OF STANDARDS TO SECURE AND FACILITATE GLOBAL TRADE - JORDAN REF: A. STATE 94927 ¶B. LEVY-DILWORTH EMAIL (06/06/05) SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. FOR USG USE ONLY. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION ON THE INTERNET. ¶1. (SBU) ECON/C June 14 delivered Ref A demarche to Jordan's new Customs Director General Alaa A. Batayneh, noting Jordan's strong support for the USG position in prior World Customs Organization (WCO) meetings, including at the Policy Commission meeting chaired by Jordan in Amman last December. Batayneh indicated Jordan's continued strong support for the Framework. He noted that he would head the Jordanian delegation at the WCO Council May 23-25, departing for Brussels on June 19. Regarding a possible letter of intent on implementing the WCO Framework (Ref B),Batayneh viewed the matter very favorably and promised to review the suggested draft language, noting however that Jordan would need to develop its capacity to fulfill the Framework's goals, a point he might raise in such a letter. ¶2. (SBU) BIO NOTE: The cabinet confirmed Batayneh as Customs Director General on May 31. He had been Secretary General at the Ministry of Transport since 2000. Batayneh studied at George Washington University (GWU),where he received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering; he received an MSc. from GWU in 1993. Batayneh is well and favorably known to the Embassy. As Transport SecGen, he gave strong support to Jordan's transit trade with Iraq. He also made significant contributions to Jordan's transportation infrastructure development. He played a major role in bringing to an end a truck association's virtual monopoly via a trucking queue system at Aqaba port; as of this September, shippers at Aqaba may choose trucking companies based on their record, not based on which truck is next in line. Batayneh has indicated to us a keen desire to continue to develop the GOJ Customs Department as an "adaptive, active, and dynamic" organization; it is already a leader among customs departments in the Middle East and North Africa region. He is married to Princess Rahma, daughter of Prince Hassan (the late King Hussein's youngest brother). END BIO NOTE. HALE