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