JORDANIAN-SYRIAN HIGHER JOINT COMMITTEE

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005397

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/04/2016
TAGS: PREL SY JO
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN-SYRIAN HIGHER JOINT COMMITTEE

REF: AMMAN 5301

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


1. (U) SUMMARY: A Jordanian diplomat provided his views on
the Jordanian-Syrian Joint Higher Committee meetings in
Damascus in June. They were co-chaired by Jordanian Prime
Minister Marouf Bakhit and Syrian Prime Minister Otari in
Damascus in late June. Septel reports a readout on water
issues. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) POLOFF met with Muwaffaq Ajlouni of the Jordanian
Foreign Ministry's Department of Arab Affairs on July 6.
Ajlouni, who attended the June 28-29 session of the
Jordanian-Syrian Higher Joint Committee meetings in Damascus,
told POLOFF that the eight cooperation agreements signed
during the meetings on investment, industry, agriculture,
higher education, health, environment, water sharing, and
culture
were a continuation of long-standing technical agreements
between Jordan and Syria. Ajlouni said that Committee
statements on the peaceful use of nuclear technology for
energy generation and on the condemnation of the use of
sanctions as a political tool were Syrian initiatives -
probably
stemming by Damascus, relationship to Iran, and that the
statement regarding a WMD-free region was an appeal to Israel
to join in a WMD-free region. He also said that statement
calling for a lasting peace in the Middle East was worded as
a call for an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights and
Shebaa Farms. (Note: This conversation took place before
the outbreak of violence in Lebanon and northern Israel.)


3. (C) These technical agreements, arranged and signed under
the patronage of Prime Minster Bakhit, contrast with the
King's diplomatic efforts to increase pressure on the SARG.
The King, along with Egypt and Saudi Arabia, has been pushing
Damascus for significant policy changes in an effort to curb
Iranian
influence in the region (ref A),even before the current
Lebanon crisis.


4. (SBU) Jordanian representatives to the June 28 Higher
Joint Committee signing session included Prime Minister
Bakhit, Foreign Minister Khatib, Interior Minister Eid Fayez,
Minister of Energy Azmi Khreisat, Transportation Minister
Saud Nseirat, Minister of Industry & Trade Sharif Zu'bi,
Minister of Water Thafer Alem, Minster of Agriculture Akef
Zubi, and government spokesman Nasser Judeh.
Hale