JORDAN OFFERS PRIVATE SUPPORT FOR CONSULTATIONS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006723

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PRM, NEA AND EUR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2015
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL IS SZ JO ICRC
SUBJECT: JORDAN OFFERS PRIVATE SUPPORT FOR CONSULTATIONS ON
MDA IN GENEVA

REF: STATE 149915

Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) Per reftel, acting Pol Chief and refcoord met with
Walid Obeidat, the Director of the Jordanian Foreign
Minister's Private Office, on August 21 to ask that Jordan
back the proposal for a diplomatic conference to adopt the
new international Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement emblem when
Switzerland convenes consultations on the issue in Geneva
September 12-13. Obeidat confirmed that Jordan had decided
against providing a formal bilateral response to the Swiss
following the June Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC)
meeting in Yemen, but assured us that Jordan not only remains
in support of the conference/MDA membership, but had
privately conveyed its position to the Swiss within the past
week. He also promised to convey to the FM reftel request
for coordination with the U.S. mission.


2. (C) However, Obeidat was very doubtful that Jordan would
share its position with any regional states. He noted that
OIC/Arab League missions in Geneva appeared to be taking "a
more hard-line position than their own capitals," and
stressed that Jordan appeared to be "only Arab state in
support of MDA membership." Continuing, he noted that Jordan
continues to be subject to intense pressure, not just from
regional states, but from the Palestinian Authority, to
maintain OIC/Arab League consensus opposing convening the
emblem conference. Obeidat added that the Jordanian Foreign
Ministry believes the OIC/Arab League position is deely
entrenched, despite the positive reaction to date to Israeli
disengagement.

HENZEL