A/S PATTERSON MEETS WITH GOJ OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 000546 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2016 TAGS: PREL KPAL IZ JO SUBJECT: A/S PATTERSON MEETS WITH GOJ OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS JIPTC Classified By: Ambassador David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (SBU) Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Anne Patterson met with General Mohammad Majed al-Eitan, head of Jordan,s Public Security Directorate (PSD) in Amman January 17. They discussed possibilities for the future of the Jordan International Police Training Center (JIPTC). END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) A/S Patterson explained to Eitan her intent to discuss with Congress additional USG involvement in JIPTC after the existing LOA expires in December 2006. She noted that perhaps the best alternative was to turn JIPTC into an International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA),which focuses on advanced police training rather than on basic cadet training. Patterson emphasized, however, that finding USG funding for a future JIPTC would be a difficult issue. Eitan appearing appreciative of the idea, adding that the PSD already has plans to turn JIPTC into a regional training "university" that would include a number of schools offering training in a variety of security disciplines. Eitan did not explain how his proposal would be funded. ¶3. (C) Eitan said the principal objective of the regional center he envisions would be to spread throughout the region a common model of policing and other security functions in order to facilitate cooperation. "Close coordination with other police departments in the region is especially important now," Eitan explained. ¶4. (C) Patterson said there had been a lot of discussion about training Palestinian police forces, but cautioned that while this is a possibility as was the case with Sudan, the U.S. may not be quite ready to proceed. Eitan said the GOJ was receptive to the idea of using JIPTC for this purpose. Hale