GOJ CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IRAQI

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 000320 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREF SMIG IZ JO SUBJECT: GOJ CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IRAQI MIGRANTS REF: A. AMMAN 9012 ¶B. AMMAN 0027 ¶C. DAMASCUS 5369 Classified By: Ambassador David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. ( SBU ) GOJ spokesman Nasser Judeh, responding to a question during his weekly press briefing, expressed support for an international conference on the situation of Iraqis who have moved to neighboring countries. (Note: Post understands UNHCR working to organize such a conference in Geneva during the coming month. End Note) Citing the "burden on natural resources" presented by the movement of large numbers of Iraqis to neighboring countries, Judeh stated the conference should focus on financial assistance to host countries. At the same time, he took pains to emphasize that Iraqis are still "welcome" in Jordan. Estimates of the number of Iraqis range from 500,000 (according to one Jordanian Interior Ministry official) to 800,000 (ref B). According to the Ministry of Interior, approximately 20,000 have registered for refugee status. ¶2. ( C ) The GOJ recognizes the need to examine the size and nature of the Iraqi presence in Jordan as a basis for future planning. Post understands the GOJ is currently considering several options, including a government-led study that would rely on NGOs for much of the actual data collection. ¶3. ( SBU ) On January 23, UNHCR concluded a three-day training workshop with the GOJ to address the current needs of refugees in Jordan. Attendees included representatives from the Foreign and Interior Ministries, Public Security Directorate, General Intelligence Department, and Border Security officials. Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ HALE