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