JORDAN ALIGNING WITH G-4 ON UNSC EXPANSION PROPOSAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005840 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2015 TAGS: PREL JO UNSC SUBJECT: JORDAN ALIGNING WITH G-4 ON UNSC EXPANSION PROPOSAL Classified By: Charge d'affaires a.i. David Hale, for reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. ( C ) Charge July 21 urged Foreign Minister Qasrawi not to support the G-4 UNSC expansion proposal. Qasrawi, contradicting what his subordinates told us last week, said Jordan's position "is to support Japan" based on long-standing Jordanian commitments to Tokyo. He said this meant that, barring an unexpected change in Japanese strategy, Jordan would support the expansion proposal if it comes to a vote. Charge reiterated post's earlier demarches setting out the U.S.'s strong opposition to the proposal, pointed out that a Jordanian vote for it would be noted in Washington, and urged that the Jordanian government reconsider. ¶2. ( C ) Comment: The Jordanian government is in the midst of a fiscal crisis, and is seeking forgiveness of most of its $1.6 billion official debt to Japan. HALE