Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05AMMAN8022
2005-10-06 13:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

JORDAN AND IRAQ INCREASE SECURITY COOPERATION

Tags:  PREL PGOV PTER PBTS IZ JO 
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061346Z Oct 05
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).

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