COMING SOON: A NEW JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005806 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ JO SUBJECT: COMING SOON: A NEW JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4(b,d) ¶1. (C) Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher told Special Advisor Jones and Charge on July 19 that the GOJ has identified a candidate to serve as ambassador to Iraq and has approached the Government of Iraq for agreement. The designee is a retired general, but no name has been provided to us. Given the security situation in Iraq, Jordan's new ambassador may present his credentials and return to Jordan until the situation improves. However, Muasher hoped that the appointment would send a strong signal to the other Arab states in particular. Muasher asked for the USG's assistance with security arrangements, complaining that "the Iraqis say encouraging things, but there is never any follow-up." ¶2. (SBU) The decision makes good on Muasher,s statement during a press conference on July 6 that the GOJ was determined to name an ambassador to Baghdad as soon as possible, despite recent attacks on diplomats there. However, the GOJ,s determination does not sit well in some quarters. A commentator in local Arabic daily al-Arab al-Youm on July 14 criticized the GOJ,s insistence on sending an Ambassador to Iraq at this time, writing: "The Iraqi government cannot protect itself, let alone our embassy. The idea of sending an ambassador to Iraq is madness, unless the government is thinking of him presenting his credentials to Al-Zarqawi?" HALE