JORDANIAN FM ON CHALABI SUIT, PROLIFERATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006538 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2015 TAGS: PARM PGOV PREL KNNP IZ JO SUBJECT: JORDANIAN FM ON CHALABI SUIT, PROLIFERATION SECURITY, JUDICIAL COOPERATION AND UNSC REFORM REF: A. AMMAN 6447 ¶B. AMMAN 6160 ¶C. AMMAN 6118 Classified By: CDA David Hale for Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) -------------- CHALABI CASE -------------- ¶1. (C) Charge met with Foreign Minister Farouk Kasrawi on August 11. After discussing the upcoming Israeli disengagement from Gaza (ref A),Charge informed Kasrawi that the USG had carefully reviewed Jordan's request for a Statement of Interest in a U.S. court case against the GOJ brought by Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Chalabi (ref C), but had decided not to issue such a statement at this time given the strong possibility that the case would be dismissed under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. Kasrawi, who had been joined by Foreign Ministry Legal Adviser Bisher Khasawneh, accepted this position. However, if the federal district court allows the case to proceed, Jordan may well again seek a Statement of Interest. --- PSI --- ¶2. (C) Charge also inquired about Jordanian progress toward joining the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). Khasawneh emphasized that support for the PSI at the political level was firmly in place, and that Jordan was fully committed to implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540. He continued, however, that the Foreign Ministry was still waiting for "technical responses" from other GOJ elements (including the Minister of Interior and the General Intelligence Directorate) as the PSI cut across several different areas of responsibility. Kasrawi agreed that it would be best to conclude Jordanian participation in the PSI before King Abdullah's planned visit to the U.S. in September. (Comment: Post is following up with the GID. End Comment.) -------------- JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE -------------- ¶3. (C) Kasrawi told Charge that he had met Central Bank Governor Touqan the previous day (August 10) to discuss cooperation with the U.S. on suspected terrorist finance cases. Kasrawi assured Charge that the GOJ and Central Bank take this matter very seriously and said they would attempt to provide all cooperation legally possible. He added that requests for assistance would be aided by as many "details" (such as full names) as possible. -------------- UNSC REFORM -------------- ¶4. (C) Turning to UN Security Council reform, Kasrawi said he understood that the African group had backtracked on movement toward supporting the G4 proposal. He hoped this would mean the G4 would be unable to muster a two-thirds majority and would not press for a premature vote, thereby relieving Jordan from competing pressures. HALE