MDA: JORDANIAN STANCE ON CONFERENCE FOR THIRD

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 004874

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA, PRM AND IO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2015
TAGS: PHUM PREF PREL IS SZ JO ICRC
SUBJECT: MDA: JORDANIAN STANCE ON CONFERENCE FOR THIRD
ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL

REF: STATE 112023

Classified By: CDA David Hale for Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)

(C) Acting PolCouns met with Walid Obeidat of the Foreign
Minister's private office on June 16 to discuss Jordan's
position on the Swiss government proposal to convene a
diplomatic conference on the Third Additional Protocol to
pave the way for MDA membership in the Red Cross/Red Crescent
Movement. Obeidat said he had discussed this issue the
previous day with Ambassador Walid Rifai, head of the Foreign
Ministry's International Organizations department. According
to Obeidat, while Jordan had no strong objections to the
Swiss proposal, there was considerable opposition by some
Arab states (though he declined to name which ones) that was
preventing consensus among Arab League nations in support of
the proposed conference. Obeidat added that while Jordan
would try to play a helpful role in ongoing Arab discussions
on this issue, it was not prepared to break ranks with other
Arab states. Charge will raise in his next meeting with
Foreign Minister Qasrawi, and it would be helpful for senior
USG officials who meet him to do so as well.
HALE