Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06AMMAN9101
2006-12-27 14:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
ARABSAT/NILESAT DEMARCHE DELIVERED
how-toVZCZCXRO4688 PP RUEHDE DE RUEHAM #9101 3611412 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 271412Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6331 INFO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 1020 RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 2545 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 2824 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 3447 RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA PRIORITY 0333 RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT PRIORITY 0703 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 1696 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 0353 RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI PRIORITY 0283 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 4242 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 0299 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS AMMAN 009101
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/PPD ALBERTO FERNANDEZ AND NEA/RA DANIELLE
MONOSSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ETTC KPAL KPAO PTER JO XF
SUBJECT: ARABSAT/NILESAT DEMARCHE DELIVERED
REF: STATE 202506
UNCLAS AMMAN 009101
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/PPD ALBERTO FERNANDEZ AND NEA/RA DANIELLE
MONOSSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ETTC KPAL KPAO PTER JO XF
SUBJECT: ARABSAT/NILESAT DEMARCHE DELIVERED
REF: STATE 202506
1. (SBU) Econoff delivered reftel demarche to Afram Jamil,
Acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Information on
December 27. Jamil explained that Jordan no longer sits on
the Arabsat board, due to Jordan's small stake in the company
(4 per cent) and its limited content contribution and usage.
Jordan is now designated as a delegate to the ArabSat General
Assembly. According to Jamil, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait own
over 50 per cent together, and are the only representatives
that can make a decision on policy. Jamil said he would
present the demarche points to the Minister for further
review, but also suggested approaching ArabSat closer to its
annual meeting set for April in Cairo. According to Jamil,
the ArabSat Board of Directors is composed of 9 members: 5
permanent (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Libya, UAE, and Qatar),2
heavy users, and 2 elected members (with substantive
financial representation).
2. (SBU) Poloff also delivered reftel demarche December 26
to Muheeb Nimrat, a senior officer in the Foreign Minister's
Private Office. Nimrat readily agreed that Al-Manar has
served as a propaganda tool for Hezbollah and Iran to
radicalize its viewers, and he expected that Al Aksa
Television would be similarly disruptive. Nimrat said he
would relay our points to Foreign Minister Khatib and would
notify poloff of any substantive response.
Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/
RUBINSTEIN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/PPD ALBERTO FERNANDEZ AND NEA/RA DANIELLE
MONOSSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ETTC KPAL KPAO PTER JO XF
SUBJECT: ARABSAT/NILESAT DEMARCHE DELIVERED
REF: STATE 202506
1. (SBU) Econoff delivered reftel demarche to Afram Jamil,
Acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Information on
December 27. Jamil explained that Jordan no longer sits on
the Arabsat board, due to Jordan's small stake in the company
(4 per cent) and its limited content contribution and usage.
Jordan is now designated as a delegate to the ArabSat General
Assembly. According to Jamil, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait own
over 50 per cent together, and are the only representatives
that can make a decision on policy. Jamil said he would
present the demarche points to the Minister for further
review, but also suggested approaching ArabSat closer to its
annual meeting set for April in Cairo. According to Jamil,
the ArabSat Board of Directors is composed of 9 members: 5
permanent (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Libya, UAE, and Qatar),2
heavy users, and 2 elected members (with substantive
financial representation).
2. (SBU) Poloff also delivered reftel demarche December 26
to Muheeb Nimrat, a senior officer in the Foreign Minister's
Private Office. Nimrat readily agreed that Al-Manar has
served as a propaganda tool for Hezbollah and Iran to
radicalize its viewers, and he expected that Al Aksa
Television would be similarly disruptive. Nimrat said he
would relay our points to Foreign Minister Khatib and would
notify poloff of any substantive response.
Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/
RUBINSTEIN