JORDAN'S UPPER HOUSE APPROVES ARTICLE 98

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006148

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID JO KICC
SUBJECT: JORDAN'S UPPER HOUSE APPROVES ARTICLE 98
AGREEMENT; LOWER HOUSE TO RECONSIDER IN AUTUMN

REF: A. AMMAN 05994

B. AMMAN 05918

C. AMMAN 05624

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Jordanian Senate unanimously endorsed
the U.S.-Jordan Article 98 agreement prior to the end of
parliament's extraordinary summer session on July 31. The
agreement will be considered by the lower house, which
previously struck it from its legislative agenda, when
parliament reconvenes after Ramadan. The lower house's
shelving of a new anti-corruption law (a top GOJ priority)
during the extraordinary session, combined with vocal (but
unproven) charges of misuse of government development funds,
demonstrate the challenges the GOJ faces in achieving its
objectives in an obstructionist parliament. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) The Jordanian Senate voted unanimously on July 31 to
approve the Article 98 agreement between the U.S. and Jordan.
The vote follows the July 28 recommendation of the Senate
legal committee (after lobbying by key cabinet ministers) in
favor of ratification (ref A). Foreign Minister Kasrawi told
Charge July 31 that Senate President Zeid Rifai, acting under
GOJ guidance, steered the agreement to a quick vote and
helped defuse potential objections. Shortly after the Senate
action, the palace issued a royal decree that immediately
ended parliament's extraordinary session, which had commenced
July 14.


3. (C) The Article 98 agreement will head back to the
Chamber of Deputies (which earlier struck the agreement from
its agenda) when parliament reconvenes in the fall for its
next regular session, most likely in November after Ramadan.
Earlier hostility toward the agreement in the lower house
(ref C) may already be softening as the GOJ works to educate
MPs on the agreement in light of widespread claims that its
affronts Jordan's "sovereignty" (ref A). The 11-deputy
Democratic Alliance bloc, for example, criticized the GOJ for
"misleading the lower house" by failing to explain adequately
the need for endorsing the agreement and the possible
ramifications of rejecting it (i.e., the possibility that
support in the U.S. for assistance to Jordan might be
undermined).


4. (U) The final day of the extraordinary session in the
lower house was marked by rancorous debate centering on funds
spent on the GOJ's Socio-Economic Transformation Plan (SETP)
between 2001 and 2004. Numerous MPs charged that the money
(which prior to this year was not included in government
budgets presented to parliament) was "spent in a suspicious
way" and had not resulted in any tangible changes to
Jordanian living standards. A majority of MPs present voted
to form a committee representing all blocs in the Chamber of
Deputies to examine SETP expenditures. PM Badran responded
that his government "welcomed" the investigation and would
provide documents to clarify how SETP proceeds were spent.


5. (C) COMMENT: While the extraordinary session agenda
covered 33 legislative items, senior officials all along
planned on a two week session. The King's single greatest
priority was to see adoption of a new anti-corruption law
(ref B). With that bill stuck in the Chamber of Deputies'
legal committee (amid claims it violated the constitution),
there was little reason for the GOJ to see the session
continue, especially in light of continued criticism of the
government as reflected in the SETP debate. END COMMENT.
HALE