KING AND SENIOR OFFICIALS GREET

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001508

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2017
TAGS: PREL KPAL ELAB IS JO IZ IR SY
SUBJECT: KING AND SENIOR OFFICIALS GREET
JORDANIAN-SPONSORED STAFFDEL

Classified By: Ambassador David Hale, Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D)


1. (C) Summary: The King and senior GOJ officials told a
Jordanian-sponsored staffdel that the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict was the core issue in the Middle East. They
described the burden large numbers of Iraqis impose on
Jordan. The Minister of Labor explained the GOJ's plan to
address reports of labor abuses at QIZs. End summary.


2. (U) Fourteen Senate staffers, sponsored by the Jordanian
Embassy in Washington, visited Jordan March 30 ) April 7.
They met with senior government officials, civil society
activists and cultural leaders. Highlights of their
exchanges follow.

King Abdullah and Peace Efforts
--------------


3. (C) King Abdullah received the staffers (accompanied by
Ambassador) at his personal residence ("Beit al-Urdun"),and
stressed his belief that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is
the core issue facing Jordan and the region. The best means
to bolster moderates to counter the growing Iranian threat,
gain regional support in stabilizing Iraq and to isolate
Syria was through progress toward a two-state solution.
While he acknowledged that the situation in Iraq had
significant domestic implications in the U.S., the King
cautioned that an early withdrawal would further destabilize
Iraq and the region. Patience was needed because political
reconciliation in Iraq was "on a slow boil." Meanwhile, the
U.S. and Arab moderates needed to focus on the Palestinian
issue, in order to turn the tables on the region,s
extremists, led by Iran, which capitalized on the
Palestinians, plight.


4. (C) King Abdullah expected the Palestinian national unity
government to collapse within months, citing fundamental
ideological difference between Fatah and Hamas. However, Abu
Mazen could negotiate with Israel as the elected leader of
the Palestinian people. In a separate meeting, the King's
Office Director Basem Awadallah told the staffdel that a key
decision point would come when Abu Mazen has to take his
plans (including negotiations with Israel) to the Palestinian
people for a plebiscite. We need to ensure that Fatah
continues to reform itself and prepare the people to accept
peace and reject Hamas, said Awadallah.


5. (C) The King cited increased public discussion of the
Arab Initiative, compared to when it was first issued in

2002. Moderate Arab states are ready for dialogue with
Israel. The possibility for Israel of full integration with
the Arab world is an "amazing prize." He predicted that a
stronger push towards restarting the peace process in the
near future would allow Arabs and Muslims to sit with
Israelis. A photo of Arabs and Israelis shaking hands under
American sponsorship would be powerful.

Iraqis in Jordan a Burden
--------------


6. (C) Every GOJ official with whom it met told the staffdel
that the large numbers of Iraqis Jordan hosts was a burden,
and they appealed for additional assistance to deal with it.
Government Spokesman Nasser Joudeh described the
soon-to-be-conducted survey of Iraqis living in Jordan by
FAFO, a Norwegian NGO. The GOJ believed there were
approximately 700,000 Iraqis in Jordan. Joudeh said they
ranged from landowners and professionals, to laborers and
asylum seekers. The asylum seekers were a minority, he
contended, and UNHCR had classified only 900 individually as
refugees. Iraqis are welcome in Jordan, said Joudeh, but so
is assistance.

Addressing Labor Issues at QIZ's
--------------


7. (SBU) Minister of Labor Basem al-Salem told the staffdel
that the GOJ took very seriously the report on labor
conditions in QIZs which the National Labor Committee (NLC),
a New York-based NGO, published in May, 2006. With support
from USAID and technical assistance from the ILO, the MOL was
able to improve its factory inspection regime and double the
number of inspectors. He highlighted the USAID-sponsored
short-term labor assessment conducted by an independent
specialized organization that was recently posted on the
MOL's website, along with the GoJ's action plan to address
remaining issues. The Minister of Labor accompanied the
group on a tour of two factories in the Al-Tajamouat QIZ.
Staffer Gabriel Adler questioned the positive impact of QIZs
to the Jordanian economy in light of the large foreign work
force. Adler remained behind and spent time at another
factory, conversed with workers, and observed dormitory and

AMMAN 00001508 002 OF 002


bathroom conditions.


8. (U) Staffdel members were:

1 - DAVID BONINE) Senior Legislative Assistant for Senator
Robert Byrd
2 - RACHELLE JOHNSON - Senior Legislative Assistant for
Senator Thad Cochran
3 - JACKIE COTTRELL - Chief of Staff for Senator Pat Roberts
4 - JOSH CARTER - Legislative Assistant for Senator Sam
Brownback
5 - PETER FISCHER - Chief of Staff for Senator Michael Crapo
6 - JENNIFER MIES - Chief of Staff for Senator Norm Coleman
7 - SHAWN WHITMAN - Chief of Staff for Senator Crag Thomas
8 - CLARINE NARDI RIDDLE - Chief of Staff for Senator Joseph
Lieberman
9 - GEORGE LOWE - Chief of Staff for Senator Ted Stevens
10 - BRIAN KLIPPENSTEIN - Chief of Staff for Senator
Christopher Bond
11 - ALOYSIUS HOGAN - Legislative Director for Senator James
Inhofe
12 - GABRIEL ADLER ) Senior Policy Analyst for Senator Byron
Dorgan
13 - ALAN HANSON - Legislative Director for Senator Jeff
Sessions
14 - KATHERINE ENGLISH - Legal Counsel for the Environmental
and Public Works Committee

Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/
HALE