JORDAN TO REPLACE PEACEKEEPING MISSION LEADER IN

S E C R E T AMMAN 001116 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2016 TAGS: PREL MARR KPKO HA JO SUBJECT: JORDAN TO REPLACE PEACEKEEPING MISSION LEADER IN HAITI REF: A. PORT AU PRINCE 130 ¶B. AMMAN 534 Classified By: Ambassador David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (S) King Abdullah told Ambassador on February 1 enroute to Washington that he had concluded there was a problem with the leadership of the Jordanian peacekeeping unit in Haiti. This problem had been worsening since the killing there December 24 of two Jordanian soldiers. The King said the commander would be replaced soon. ¶2. (SBU) In addition, Chairman of the Jordanian Armed Forces General Khalid Sarayreh has tentative plans, pending the King's approval, to travel to Haiti as soon as possible, in order to personally investigate the morale of the unit. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: Jordan is keen to promote an image as a helpful contributor to peacekeeping operations, and recognizes that image has been stained in Haiti. Jordan's leadership remains committed to addressing the problems related to the Jordanian contingent there, as evidenced by the Chairman's planned to visit Haiti. Jordanian authorities have no intent or desire to withdraw their forces from Haiti, but do want them repositioned to a less hostile sector if possible. End Comment. HALE