GOJ AGREES TO JIPTC EXTENSION, WITH CHANGES

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001655 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR NEA AND INL E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2017 TAGS: SNAR PREL JO IZ SUBJECT: GOJ AGREES TO JIPTC EXTENSION, WITH CHANGES REF: A. STATE 37702 ¶B. STATE 39189 ¶C. AMMAN 1411 Classified By: Ambassador David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request, please see paragraph 7. ¶2. (SBU) JIPTC Director and polmiloff met with Public Security Directorate (PSD) Deputy Director for Operations BG Tawfiq Al-Halalmeh on April 15 to discuss the extension of U.S. use of the Jordan International Police Training Center (JIPTC) to train Iraqi correctional officers (requested in reftels A and B, and initially reported reftel C). Halalmeh stated that PSD agrees to an extension of the amended Letter of Agreement (LoA) with INL through August 2007 but with some alterations. He also provided an offer for PSD to provide food services from May 1 through August 31. Extension -------------- ¶3. (SBU) While Halalmeh agreed to the extension, he requested that in Section III, B., e. of the LoA, we remove the phrase "one language assistant per one international non-Arabic speaking instructor". ¶4. (SBU) At the beginning of the meeting, Halalmeh requested the U.S. increase its monthly compensation to JD 2 million (approximately USD 2.8 million) per month. With significant push back from emboffs, Halalmeh retreated and asked for an unspecified amount of additional monthly compensation, and that the U.S. pay the food expenses of the PSD staff assigned to JIPTC. Halalmeh argued that the costs to PSD to provide security, electricity, water, garbage collection, and sewage removal were greater than the current USD 1.5 million monthly payment. ¶5. (C) The personal assistant to PSD Director MG Mohammad Majed Al-Eitan was present in the meeting. He privately commented afterwards that the Director would appreciate any additional assistance that the U.S. could provide, but that the Director did not seek an increase in the monthly payment. Comment: The same assistant had been key in managing Halalmeh's previous unrealistic demands and has the ear of the Director. However, should INL find a means of increasing support, either by providing food or increasing the monthly payment, this gesture would help reinforce PSD support for U.S. efforts at JIPTC. End comment. Food Services -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Halalmeh also provided per unit prices for PSD to serve food to students, instructors, and visitors from May 1 through August 2007. Halalmeh stated that for students and instructors eating three meals a day, PSD will require USD 22 per day. For instructors, staff, and visitors eating only once a day (the midday meal),PSD requests USD 10 per day. Action Request -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Post requests the Department's guidance on PSD's requests to change the LoA's text, for additional funding, and for the U.S. to provide food services to PSD staff assigned to the center. Further, Post requests the Department's determination on PSD's offer to provide food services. Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ HALE