JAAFARI ON TRIP TO JORDAN AND ARAB LEAGUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004445

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM IZ
SUBJECT: JAAFARI ON TRIP TO JORDAN AND ARAB LEAGUE
ENGAGEMENT


Classified By: Charge David Satterfield, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) PM Jaafari briefed Charge October 29 on his
just-concluded visit to Jordan and reflected on the previous
week's visit by Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa.
Jaafari said he was "completely satisfied" with the visit to
Amman. King Abdullah, the Jordanian PM and other officials -
he particularly singled out Zaid Rifai - had shown him great
hospitality and had exceeded Jaafari's expectations regarding
their attitude toward "the new Iraq." In particular, Jaafari
said that his hosts and the "average Jordanians" he had met
during the visit had hailed what the PM said was "my
unexpected popularity."


2. (C) On substantive issues, Jaafari said that he had
pressed for sending Jordan's Ambassador-designate to Baghdad,
and the GOJ had agreed. (Note: We armed Jaafari in advance
with information to pass during his visit confirming that USG
is able to provide suitable secure housing/office space
within the IZ as of end November. End Note.) The issue of
Jordanian/Iraqi debt and commercial claims also had been
raised, with agreement that Iraqi Finance Minister Allawi
would set up a technical team this coming week to engage with
the GOJ. Charge underscored importance of close coordination
with US on the debt issue and briefly outlined our exchanges
in Amman with Jordanian officials on this issue.


3. (C) Jaafari also had discussed the activities of Saddam's
two daughters, resident in Jordan. He had received
assurances that the daughters would not be permitted to
engage in any/any political activity whatsoever. While
Jaafari had been prepared to discuss the status of Ahmed
Chalabi, the issue had not been raised. Jaafari told Charge
that his position was that the Chalabi case should be handled
as an individual legal matter and separated completely from
political considerations. He said he took no position on the
merits of the legal case, which was a matter solely for
appropriate judicial consideration. Finally, Jaafari said he
had pressed his hosts for more "balanced" treatment of Iraq
in the Jordanian media and had received positive assurances.


4. (C) On the Moussa visit, Jaafari said that he had been
pleased with the general character of the visit but had
cautioned Moussa strongly at the outset of his trip on the
need to clarify that the Arab League fully accepts the
reality of "the new Iraq" and is fully respectful of Iraqi
sovereignty. Jaafari said that there are many questions that
need to be resolved before the Moussa-proposed "gathering"
(the PM said he preferred not to characterize the proposed AL
event as a "conference") takes place. Issues that need to be
resolved in advance include: who would attend (PM "red lines"
were "no Baathists/no terrorists," although he then stated
individuals like Salih Mutlaq should be kept out as well);
what the agenda and follow up of the meeting should be; and
which non-Iraqi parties - if any - should be present.
Satterfield