EXBS-JORDAN ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE JULY 2007

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 AMMAN 003365 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/ECC VPIKOULAS, KCROUCH, PVAN SON, DS, PM DOC FOR L. HOWE, D. CREED US COAST GUARD FOR USCG ACTIVITIES/MIO EUROPE US CUSTOMS FOR J. GOUGE, R. Watt, W. LAWRENCE USDOE/NNSA FOR T. PERRY, P. ROBINSON, D. TYNAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL MASS KSTC KNNP JO SUBJECT: EXBS-JORDAN ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE JULY 2007 REFS: STATE 97620 ¶I. SUMMARY. The EXBS Advisor coordinated with the U.S. Departments of Commerce (DOC),Energy (DOE),Homeland Security (DHS),and State (DOS) to finalize scheduling for Jordan-related EXBS events through the beginning of 2008. Jordan hosted a workshop on licensing procedures for strategically controlled commodities and technology. END SUMMARY. II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD. ¶A. SITE ASSESSMENTS, MEETINGS AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES DURING REPORTING PERIOD. ¶1. On July 9, EXBS Advisor met with Jerry W. Rowe, Regional Advisor-Africa & Middle East, Department of Treasury, Office of Technical Assistance Financial Enforcement (DOT-OTAFE),and Joe E. Parker, Advisor Financial Enforcement, DOT-OTAFE to discuss the EXBS program in Jordan and the region. Advisor provided an informal EXBS brief and gave them contact names at Jordan Customs with whom they could discuss the new Jordanian Anti-Money-Laundering law. ¶2. On July 10, EXBS Advisor met with Samer Al-Kharouf, Head of Radiation Measurements & Calibration Lab, Mechanical Design & Technology Center, Royal Scientific Society(RSS),Amman, Jordan to discuss the role of the RSS as a repository of nuclear energy subject matter experts (SME) for the GOJ. The RSS will continue to be a reference source for nuclear energy SME for GOJ. Senior officials and scientists of the RSS are likely to sit as members on the two nuclear energy committees (Peaceful Development and Monitoring & Safety) recently authorized by law. The chair for the Monitoring & Safety Committee, the body responsible for the proposed nuclear energy MOU, has yet to be named. ¶3. On July 11, EXBS Advisor met with Ali E. Talafheh, Head of Export & Import, Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to discuss the development of a comprehensive export control law for Jordan. MoIT will lead the GOJ effort to develop such a law. Talafheh anticipates that this law will be compliant with UNSCR 1540 (2004) and the requirements of existing control regimes. Talafheh expects this law to be ready for parliamentary consideration in 2008. ¶4. On July 12, EXBS Advisor met with Dr. Khalid Takhayneh, Foreign Ministry, to discuss the nuclear energy Monitoring & Safety Committee recently authorized by law. ¶5. During the period July 1-12, EXBS Advisor coordinated logistical arrangements for the Licensing III Workshop presented by EXBS/DOC and then attended the event which was held at the Cooperative Monitoring Center-Amman from July 9-12, 2007. The workshop hosted 18 Jordanian officials and was judged a success by all who attended. ¶6. On July 22, EXBS Advisor joined other Embassy and USAID officials to meet with Lindsey Wellons, Expanded Trade & Investment Component Leader, Sustainable Achievement of Business Expansion & Quality (SABEQ) and Jamal Olaimat, Customs Administration Moderization Program (CAMP) to discuss the state of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in Jordan and the existing legal infrastructure for addressing infringement of copyrights, patents, and trademarks and seizing and destroying illicit goods. Jordan's laws do not currently allow Customs to seize illicit goods if they are in transit through Jordan. Nor are institutional responsibilities and authority clearly defined in the laws. Additionally, Jordan's laws do not clearly identify IPR infractions as a crime subject to prosecution, imprisonment, and fines. Embassy and USAID officials will continue to work with SABEQ, CAMP, and the GOJ to remedy this deficiency. Customs line officers would benefit from training on how to AMMAN 00003365 002 OF 003 recognize counterfeit goods. ¶7. During the period of July 1-26, EXBS Advisor coordinated the visit of a preventative maintenance team. The team visited Jordan July 25-26 to perform maintenance on the X-Ray van EXBS provided to Jordan in 2004. ¶8. During the period of July 1-31, EXBS Advisor worked on various country clearance cables for officials of DOE, DHS, DOS, and the Sandia and Pacific Northwest National Laboratories. ¶9. During the period of July 13-31, EXBS Advisor worked on BLUE LANTERN 05-050032784, 05-0500327791, 05-0500327792, a pre-license check. ¶10. During July, EXBS Advisor had numerous contacts with staff members of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission to receive updates on the status of the new nuclear energy committee for monitoring and safety. GOJ has not yet named the chairman of this body. ¶11. During July, EXBS Advisor had numerous contacts with GOJ and DOE officials to discuss the status of the MEGAPORTS Initiative MOU between DOE and Jordan. There has been little change since last month. GOJ officials continue to expect an affirmative response and immediate signature of the MEGAPORTS Initiative MOU by the chairman of the new commission for monitoring and safety of nuclear energy. GOJ has not yet named this official. ¶B. TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING REPORTING PERIOD. ¶1. EXBS: Licensing III: CMC-Amman, Amman Jordan, July 9-12 2007. ¶2. OTHER: None. ¶C. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING REPORTING PERIOD. ¶1. EXBS: None. ¶2. OTHER: None. ¶D. FUTURE TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE. ¶1. EXBS: ¶A. International Seaport Interdiction Training: Aqaba, Jordan, August 26-30 2007. Cable received. ¶B. One X-ray vehicle with gamma/neutron detection capability for use with vehicles and cargo containers: Delivered to Aqaba, Jordan, Mid-September 2007. Cable pending. ¶C. Strategic Commodities Identification Training: Aqaba, Jordan, October/November 2007. Fall 2007. Cable pending. ¶D. HAZMAT Training: Harper's Ferry Virginia-CBP Facility, December ¶2007. Fall 2007. Cable pending. ¶E. Export Enforcement Investigations Seminar: Jordan, February 2008. Proposal cable pending. ¶F. Strategic Commodities Identification-Train the Trainer Training: Amman, Jordan, December 2007. Dates to be determined - Cable pending. ¶2. OTHER: None. ¶E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY. AMMAN 00003365 003 OF 003 None. ¶F. OTHER SIGNIFICANT ISSUES/EVENTS. ¶1. EXBS: As of September 30, 2007, no EXBS advisor will be resident in Jordan. ¶2. OTHER: None. III. RED FLAG ISSUES. None. IV. Any questions or comments can be directed to Joseph C. Irvine, EXBS Advisor to Jordan & the Middle East Region, Telephone: (962 6) 590-6550/6558, Fax: (962 6) 592-7653, Email: IrvineJC@state.gov. Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.gov.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ HALE