ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING: JORDAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 007133 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2015 TAGS: PREL PTER IZ JO UN SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING: JORDAN REF: A. AMMAN 7081 ¶B. STATE 163365 Classified By: CDA David Hale for Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) In the absence of Foreign Minister Kasrawi, Charge and poloff delivered ref B demarche and corresponding non-paper on September 5 to Nabih Shuqom, Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry. Shuqom said he would pass the information to FM Kasrawi upon his return to Amman that evening and gave the following substantive responses: ¶2. (C) Terrorism: Jordan unequivocally denounces all forms of terrorism. Its efforts to promote religious tolerance and to reject terrorist acts in the name of Islam are well known. The GOJ hopes that a consensus can be reached soon on the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (ref A). ¶3. (C) Magen David Adom (MDA): While Jordan privately favors the convening of a diplomatic conference to adopt a new, neutral emblem for the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, it is unwilling to oppose publicly the strong consensus among OIC and Arab League states against the conference. "We can't afford to be on the losing side of this issue," Shuqom stated. ¶4. (C) Iraq: The GOJ's designated ambassador to Baghdad "would be on a plane tomorrow" if the necessary security arrangements were in place. The Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG) and multi-national forces, however, have yet to agree to and furnish requested security measures, including a secure residence within a protected area for the ambassador. Shuqom also complained that official GOJ inquiries regarding Jordanian detainees in Iraqi prisons were often left unanswered. ¶5. (C) Syria-Lebanon: The GOJ has tried several times to reinforce the U.S. message on unacceptable Syrian behavior, but without any tangible results. ¶6. (C) UN High-Level Event: Jordan, like other Arab League states, is focused on the upcoming event at the UN and hopes for a productive outcome. Shuqom said that he expected little to come out of the Foreign Ministers' meeting in Cairo as most of the discussions would "simply shift to New York" a few days later. ¶7. (C) Reform: The GOJ is a steadfast proponent for reform in the region. Shuqom said Jordan would send a strong delegation to the Forum for the Future in Manama, and noted that he had met with prospective forum participants the previous day. HALE