HOST COUNTRY AGREEMENT WITH JORDAN ON CWC

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006452

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2015
TAGS: PARM MARR MASS MOPS JO
SUBJECT: HOST COUNTRY AGREEMENT WITH JORDAN ON CWC
CHALLENGE INSPECTIONS

REF: STATE 142120

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


1. (C) Acting PolCouns met with Foreign Ministry Legal
Adviser Bisher Khasawneh on August 10 to present reftel
talking points on the proposed bilateral Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) on challenge inspections under the
Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Khasawneh apologized for
the long delay in providing a response to the MOU and
expressed frustration that he had still not received complete
feedback on the document from the Jordan Armed Forces or from
the Ministry of Interior. He pledged to raise this issue
directly with Foreign Minister Kasrawi and to ask him to
contact military and Interior Ministry officials to expedite
a response. (NOTE: Charge raised the MOU during an August 11
meeting with the Foreign Minister (septel),who replied that
he would look into the matter. END NOTE.)


2. (C) Khasawneh further stated that while Jordan most
likely would be represented at the 10th Conference of the
States Parties to the CWC meeting at the Hague in early
November, he was not sure at this time who would attend for
the GOJ or whether this person would be able to discuss the
finer points of the MOU. He welcomed, however, a possible
visit by a U.S. delegation to Amman in November (after
Ramadan) or December for talks on this subject. Post will
continue to engage Khasawneh and the Foreign Minister on the
MOU and report via septel once a GOJ response is received.
HALE