Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BAGHDAD3751
2005-09-12 11:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

JORDANIAN PM VISITS BAGHDAD

Tags:  PREL JO IZ 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003751 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2015
TAGS: PREL JO IZ
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN PM VISITS BAGHDAD

Classified By: Political Counselor Robert Ford for
reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003751

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2015
TAGS: PREL JO IZ
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN PM VISITS BAGHDAD

Classified By: Political Counselor Robert Ford for
reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (U) Jordanian Prime Minister Adnan Badran, accompanied by
Foreign Minister Farouk Kasrawi and Ministers of Interior,
Energy and Planning, visited Baghdad the afternoon of
September 10. The delegation held separate meetings with
Iraqi PM Ibrahim al-Ja'afari and Deputy President Adil Abd
al-Mahdi. There was a press conference following each event.
The visit was largely meant to send a signal to Arab and
neighboring countries that it is time to begin direct
high-level bilateral relations with the GOI.


2. (C) While short on substance and long on intentions, the
atmospherics surrounding the visit were good with smiles all
around. Slaiman Arabiat, the Jordanian CDA in Baghdad, later
told Poloff that discussions were general and focused on
bilateral issues of trade, security and debt. Plans were
made to restart activities of the Iraq-Jordan Commission and
its 10 Committees, though Iraqi PM Advisor Adnan Ali termed
these plans as very preliminary. The Jordanian PM extended
an invitation for an official visit to Amman by PM
al-Ja'fari. (NOTE: Adnan Ali stressed that the Iraqis await
an official invitation from Amman.) An advisor to Deputy
President Abdel Mehdi commented that the meetings went
smoothly, with little discussion of details. He added that
the point was made to Arab and neighboring countries that it
is time to move relations forward with the new Iraq.


3. (C) COMMENT: Badran, Kasrawi and Arabiat each expressed
appreciation for the substantial logistical and security
support provided by Embassy and MNF-I. On the Iraqi side,
ITG disorganization was in clear evidence with Ja'afari
himself arriving in his office to receive Badran 15 minutes
after the Jordanian PM had arrived. Furthermore, the Iraqi
PM's office, which had initially claimed to have full
responsibility for the schedule, neglected to confirm the
location of the meeting with Abdel Mehdi. (Septel reports
further on organizational challenges in Ja'afari's office).
While post was pleased to help with this important first
visit of an Arab Head of Government to post-Saddam Iraq, we
will press the Iraqis to assume greater responsibilities for
future high-level trips of this kind.
Satterfield