A/S HILLEN'S MEETING WITH JAF CHAIRMAN GENERAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003565 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG IR IS IZ SY SA JO SUBJECT: A/S HILLEN'S MEETING WITH JAF CHAIRMAN GENERAL SARAYREH Classified By: AMBASSADOR DAVID HALE, FOR REASON 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Assistant Secretary for Political Military Affairs John Hillen, accompanied by the Ambassador, met May 2 with the General Khalid Sarayreh, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF). General Sarayreh discussed border security and expressed his appreciation for U.S. support, but stressed Jordan will need continued assistance to face rising oil prices and regional challenges. ¶2. (C) General Sarayreh described Jordan's Saudi and Israeli borders as secure and under control but complained that the Saudi government was not assisting Jordan with costs associated with border security. In light of rising costs, he said, Jordan would be unable to indefinitely keep a large security presence along its borders. Stating that the Syrian government was not an effective partner on border security, Sarayreh described Jordan's border with Syria as insecure and vulnerable. Jordanian borders guards disrupt drug and weapon smuggling attempts regularly; many of the weapons confiscated at the border originate in Iran, are smuggled from Syria into Jordan and are ultimately destined for Palestine, he said. Sarayreh commented that the smuggling of weapons into and through Jordan would intensify if there is continued disorder in Iraq. The situation on the Jordan-Iraq border had improved, but smuggling and infiltration attempts continue. HALE