Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06AMMAN2495
2006-04-09 14:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

JORDAN TO HOST IRAQ CONFERENCE

Tags:  PREL KISL IZ JO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7215
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHAM #2495 0991430
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 091430Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9446
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002495 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016
TAGS: PREL KISL IZ JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN TO HOST IRAQ CONFERENCE

REF: A. AMMAN 1531

B. AMMAN 2325

C. CAIRO 2021

D. 04 AMMAN 9152

E. 04 AMMAN 9411

Classified By: Classified by Ambassador David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002495

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016
TAGS: PREL KISL IZ JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN TO HOST IRAQ CONFERENCE

REF: A. AMMAN 1531

B. AMMAN 2325

C. CAIRO 2021

D. 04 AMMAN 9152

E. 04 AMMAN 9411

Classified By: Classified by Ambassador David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)


1. (U) Jordan's official news agency, Petra, announced April
5 that the GoJ will host a conference of "senior Iraqi
religious and tribal leaders" in Amman on April 22 under the
patronage of King Abdullah. The conference, to be organized
in cooperation between Jordan,s Aal al-Bayt Institute and
the Arab League, will reportedly also include leading clerics
from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Syria, the Gulf and Iran.
According to the press announcement, the conference will
provide "a forum for Iraqi leaders to take a crucial step
towards stemming the violence in Iraq." It added that the
conference is expected to culminate in a signed declaration
that "fighting between Shi,ites and Sunnis has no legitimate
basis."


2. (C) King Abdullah discussed his plans for an Iraqi
conference on February 28 with Coordinator for
Counterterrorism Ambassador Crumpton (ref A),and more
recently with Senator McCain on March 26 (ref B). The
King,s cousin and advisor for religious affairs, Prince
Ghazi, is taking the lead role in organizing the conference.
The King hoped that Iraqi religious leaders would find ways
to defuse tensions between Iraq,s religious and ethnic
groups, and that Muslim religious figures at the conference
would denounce extremist misinterpretations of Islam and
reaffirm Islamic principles against sectarian violence and in
support of toleration. Prince Ghazi told the Ambassador
March 21 that the GoJ has secured the participation of all
key Iraqi Muslim sects and tribal groups. A variety of
Shi,ite groups will be present, including representatives of
Ayatollah al-SISTANI. Prince Ghazi indicated that the GoJ
believes success of the conference hinges upon agreement
beforehand on the final statement to be issued, and the GoJ
is confident that such agreement is already in hand.


3. (SBU) According to local media, the King discussed the
conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Zebari in early March.
The recent summit of Arab League leaders in Khartoum also
welcomed Jordan,s proposal to host Iraqi religious and
tribal leaders in Amman (ref C).


4. (SBU) NOTE: The GOJ attempted to host publicly Iraqi
Sunni figures, including tribal leaders, at a November 2004
conference, but the event was canceled due to operations in
Fallujah (ref E). The GOJ maintains regular private contacts
with a wide range of Iraqis. END NOTE.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: The GoJ is attempting to build on previous
religious-tolerance endeavors. In July 2005 King Abdullah
hosted the International Islamic Conference on "True Islam"
and in November 2004, the King presented the
"Amman Message" which rejected religious extremism and
terrorism and promoted moderation, tolerance and dialogue
(ref D). END COMMENT.
HALE