FORUM FOR THE FUTURE: PARALLEL CONFERENCES

UNCLAS AMMAN 008573

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MEPI JO
SUBJECT: FORUM FOR THE FUTURE: PARALLEL CONFERENCES


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: IN ADDITION TO THE PARALLEL CIVIL SOCIETY
CONFERENCE ENVISIONED AND SUPPORTED BY FORUM FOR THE FUTURE
(FFF) PLANNERS, TWO OTHER CIVIL SOCIETY GATHERINGS WILL OCCUR
IN JORDAN DURING THE SAME TIMEFRAME AS THE FORUM. SOME
PARTICIPANTS IN THE CONFERENCES NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE FFF
MAY GENERATE CRITICAL MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE FORUM. END
SUMMARY.

THE "AUTHORIZED" PARALLEL CONFERENCE
--------------


2. ( U ) AS REQUESTED AND ENCOURAGED BY THE HOSTS AND
PLANNERS OF THE NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 1 FORUM FOR THE FUTURE
MEETINGS IN AMMAN, A PARALLEL CONFERENCE OF CIVIL SOCIETY
GROUPS WILL CONVENE. THE PARALLEL CONFERENCE IS BEING STAGED
IN COORDINATION WITH THE JORDANIAN PLANNING MINISTRY UNDER
THE AUSPICES OF A JORDANIAN NGO, THE ADALEH CENTER FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS, LED BY ASSAM RABABA. PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE MANY
WELL-ESTABLISHED CIVIL SOCIETY PLAYERS FROM THROUGHOUT THE
REGION, INCLUDING DR. HANI HOURANI, HEAD OF THE EL URDUN EL
JADEED CENTER, WHO IS PLAYING A PROMINENT ROLE ON THE
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE. THEY ELECTED SIX REPRESENTATIVES WHO
WILL SPEAK AT THE MINISTERIAL MEETINGS OF THE FORUM. THESE
REPRESENTATIVES WILL JOIN OTHER CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPANTS IN
THE FORUM.

AMMAN CONFERENCE TO COMBAT HEGEMONY
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3. ( U ) ANOTHER GROUP OF CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVISTS, WHO ARE
ALSO WELL-ESTABLISHED IN JORDAN BUT CRITICAL OF U.S. AND
JORDANIAN FOREIGN POLICY, IS CONVENING NOVEMBER 30 TO
DECEMBER 1. CALLING ITSELF THE "AMMAN CONFERENCE TO COMBAT
HEGEMONY", THE CONFERENCE IS LED BY HANI DAHLEH AND BADI
RAFAYA OF THE ARAB ORGANIZATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, A JORDANIAN
NGO. LOCAL MEDIA REPORT THAT THE JORDANIAN UNION OF
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, WHICH IS A CONSISTENT CRITIC OF
U.S. POLICY, HAS GIVEN DAHLEH $15,000 TO FUND HIS CONFERENCE.
THIS ALTERNATIVE "PARALLEL CONFERENCE" WAS TO TAKE PLACE AT
THE "AL QUDS" HOTEL IN AMMAN. PRESS REPORTS INDICATE THE GOJ
HAS DENIED A PERMIT FOR THIS MEETING TO TAKE PLACE. THE
ORGANIZERS HAVE VOWED TO MEET ANYWAY IN THE PROFESSIONAL
ASSOCIATIONS UNION HEADQUARTERS. THE MOST LIKELY DAY FOR
THIS EVENT IS NOVEMBER 30TH.

WORLD ASSOCIATION OF NGOS
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4. ( SBU ) YET A THIRD CONFERENCE WILL CONVENE IN JORDAN AT
THE SAME TIME AS THE FORUM. THE WORLD ASSOCIATION OF
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (WANGO) ANNOUNCED IT IS
HOLDING A "WORLD CONGRESS OF NGOS" AT THE DEAD SEA MOEVENPICK
HOTEL UNDER THE SLOGAN "FORCES FOR PEACE." THE MOEVENPICK IS
A FEW HUNDRED YARDS FROM THE KING HUSSEIN CONFERENCE CENTER
WHERE THE FORUM MEETINGS WILL TAKE PLACE. HOWEVER, GOJ
SECURITY WILL TIGHTLY CONTROL ACCESS TO BOTH THE CONFERENCE
CENTER AND THE MARRIOT, WHERE MOST OF THE U.S. DELEGATION
WILL STAY. THE WANGO'S EVENT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A
COMPETING CONFERENCE, BUT MAY RECEIVE INCREASED RECOGNITION
DUE TO PROXIMITY IN TIME AND LOCATION TO THE FORUM.
ACCORDING TO SOME INTERNET SITES (E.G. WWW.ZOOMINFO.COM AND
BLOG.WORLD-CITIZEN.ORG),WANGO IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
UNIFICATION CHURCH.


5. ( SBU )THE JORDANIAN PLANNING MINISTRY IS AWARE OF THE TWO
INDEPENDENT NGO CONFERENCES. THE GOJ DOES NOT EXPECT
PARTICIPANTS IN EITHER CONFERENCE TO ATTEMPT TO DISRUPT THE
FORUM. WE DO EXPECT THE INDEPENDENTS, HOWEVER, TO COMPETE
WITH THE FORUM FOR THE FUTURE SPONSORED NGO EVENT FOR MEDIA
ATTENTION.

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