JORDAN AND IRAQ INCREASE SECURITY COOPERATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 008022 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PBTS IZ JO SUBJECT: JORDAN AND IRAQ INCREASE SECURITY COOPERATION REF: A. AMMAN 7273 ¶B. HACC-JORDAN SITREP 1 OCTOBER Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Iraqi Interior Minister Bayan Jabr visited Jordan September 30 - October 1 and announced the completion of an Iraq-Jordan MOU on security cooperation. Jabr, who in the past has publicly criticized the training of Iraqi security forces outside Iraq, also visited the U.S.-funded Jordanian International Police Training Center (JIPTC) outside Amman, and reportedly came away with a more positive view of the program (he seemed pleased when Charge saw him at the center). Jabr also met with King Abdullah. Jabr,s visit came on the heels of the visit to Baghdad by Jordanian PM Badran and three other ministers September 10 (ref A). ¶2. (C) In reaction to an earlier statement attributed by international media to Saudi FM Saud Al-Faisal, Jabr told the press "Iraqis would not accept a Bedouin on a camel teaching us about human rights and democracy." Senior GoJ officials later mentioned to Charge that it was an embarrassment to Jordan that this outburst occurred while Jabr was in Amman. ¶3. (SBU) Jabr told local media October 1, "We want to establish the best of ties to protect our joint borders and combat terrorism." Jordan's Interior Minister Awni Yarfas was quoted by Reuters as saying "we have a memorandum of understanding to boost cooperation in the security field, whether in fighting terrorism, tightening border controls in both directions and prevention of infiltration." Mukhaimer Abu Jamous, Secretary General at the Jordanian Ministry of Interior, told Poloff October 4 that Jabr presented drafts of the security MOU to Jordan, Syria, Turkey and Egypt during the May Interior Ministers, meeting in Istanbul. Jordan is the first to sign the security MOU with Iraq. The MOU establishes two bi-national committees staffed with liaison officers: one for security issues, and another for implementation. Border Crossing Problems -------------- ¶4. (C) The increased Jordanian-Iraqi cooperation that this MOU aims to foster is particularly needed at the Jordan-Iraq border. EmbOffs and U.S. military liaison officers have observed persistent communication problems between Jordanian and Iraqi officials at the Karama-Trebil crossing. Abu Jamous told Poloff that "without USG support on the border the Iraqis would have little to no control." We understand PM Badran raised this issue during his visit in Baghdad, as well as the GOJ,s belief that altered documents and license plates are becoming more common among Iraqis seeking entry into Jordan (ref B). Jabr,s delegation in Amman was briefed on new security measures the Jordanians are taking at the border to prevent infiltration by foreign militants, including x-ray screening of selected personal vehicles, and improved lighting. HALE