FM ON RELATIONS WITH ITG, MONEY LAUNDERING,

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006160 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2015 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER CASC IZ JO SUBJECT: FM ON RELATIONS WITH ITG, MONEY LAUNDERING, CONSULAR MOU AND UNSC EXPANSION REF: A. AMMAN 6148 ¶B. AMMAN 6118 ¶C. AMMAN 6116 ¶D. AMMAN 5806 ¶E. AMMAN 5626 Classified By: CDA David Hale for Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Foreign Minister Kasrawi hopes to send an ambassador to Baghdad by September, but will first need adequate assurances concerning his safety. A visit by PM Badran to Iraq is still possible, although, again, security is the chief concern. The GOJ will work hard to ensure passage of a new anti-money laundering law in parliament this Fall, and is moving ahead ON U.S. requests regarding judicial cooperation and the Proliferation Security Initiative. Kasrawi asked for an update ON the draft consular MOU ON parental access, and the latest U.S. understanding ON the G4 proposal for UN Security Council expansion. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Charge met July 31 with Foreign Minister Farouk Kasrawi. After discussing issues related to the upcoming Arab summit at Sharm (ref C),a lawsuit brought against the GOJ in the U.S. by Iraqi Deputy PM Ahmad Chalabi (ref B),and the U.S.-Jordan Article 98 agreement (ref A),Charge raised Jordan's plans to send an ambassador to Iraq. Kasrawi replied that the designated nominee, retired general Ahmed al-Louzi, had received full support from within the GOJ, as well as agrement from Baghdad. The remaining hurdle to al-Louzi's departure for Iraq was security. Kasrawi said he was still waiting to hear from the Jordanian Charge in Baghdad ON proposed security arrangements for the new ambassador, including Jordan's request that he be housed in the Green Zone. (NOTE: Kasrawi said he would like to send one or two other Jordanian diplomats to Baghdad, but needed assurances ON the safety of their residences as well. END NOTE.) He added that he hoped al-Louzi would be in Baghdad prior to the START of the UN General Assembly in September, but that al-Louzi might have to present his credentials and then return to Amman if sufficient security measures were not in place by then. ¶3. (C) Charge also asked Kasrawi to encourage Prime Minister Badran in his stated intention to travel to Baghdad. Kasrawi recognized the symbolic impact that a Badran visit could make, but said that plans for such a visit (as well as travel by al-Louzi) would have to proceed very carefully, as well as quietly as the Jordanian Charge in Baghdad reported feeling more "under watch" since press articles appeared ON al-Louzi's appointment. ¶4. (C) Turning from Iraq, Charge reiterated strong U.S. support for the GOJ's draft anti-money laundering bill and asked that it be given priority status when parliament reconvenes in the Fall, particularly since it was left off the agenda for parliament's extraordinary summer session (ref D). Kasrawi assured Charge that the bill was very important to the GOJ as well, and said that the government was currently working to overcome potential opposition to it so as to increase its chances for smooth passage in the legislature. Kasrawi took note of Charge's request for Jordan to soon join the Proliferation Security Initiative, saying that the GOJ was trying to resolve "conflicting legal opinions" concerning its provisions. He also promised to talk to the Minister of Justice about strengthening an inter-agency judicial cooperation committee set up this year to improve bilateral judicial assistance. ¶5. (C) Kasrawi concluded the meeting by asking about U.S. reaction to proposed GOJ changes to the draft consular Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) ON parental access in child custody cases, as well as the latest U.S. understanding ON the G4 proposal for UN Security Council expansion. With respect to the latter, he pointed to an emerging G4/African agreement, but emphasized that he hoped the issue would not come to a vote prematurely. Charge responded that post would follow up ON both matters. HALE