EXTRADITION TREATY WITH JORDAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001109

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR L AND NEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2015
TAGS: PREL CASC CJAN KTIA JO
SUBJECT: EXTRADITION TREATY WITH JORDAN

REF: 05 AMMAN 3151

Classified By: AMBASSADOR DAVID HALE FOR REASONS 1.4 (b and d).


1. (C) Post is working to re-focus the GOJ on resolving the
status of the extradition treaty between the U.S. and Jordan.
This is a priority point in our meetings with senior GOJ
officials, and we ask visiting senior U.S. officials to lend
their weight as well, and to consider raising with Jordanian
Ambassador Kawar. Visiting INL A/S Patterson urged Interior
Minister Eid al Fayez in mid-January to pursue the matter
with cabinet colleagues, as the treaty would facilitate the
bilateral extradition of terrorists and criminals.


2. (C) Washington may wish to draw from the background below
in its interactions with the Jordanian Embassy and visiting
GOJ officials.

A 1997 Jordanian court ruling states that Jordan's bilateral
extradition treaty with the U.S. is invalid until ratified by
parliament. In the absence of a sitting Parliament from 2001
to 2003 and over the course of six government changes since
the election of a new parliament in June 2003, the GOJ has
not yet submitted the treaty to parliament for consideration.
In a mid-April 2005 meeting with then-Foreign Minister
Qasrawi, Ambassador discussed the status of the U.S. - Jordan
Extradition Treaty, which the U.S. regards as being in force.
Qasrawi promised to pursue the matter, saying that a
strategy for successful parliamentary ratification would need
careful consideration. Newly appointed Interior Minister Eid
al Fayez and Foreign Minister al-Khatib have indicated that
the new Bakhit cabinet is considering putting the treaty
before parliament for ratification this year. Ambassador has
also briefed the Prime Minister - who was non-committal - on
the importance of resolving this matter.
HALE