FOREIGN MINSTER SAYS GOJ IS WORKING TO RELEASE

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 000447

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV JO
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINSTER SAYS GOJ IS WORKING TO RELEASE
JORDANIAN PRISONERS FROM GUANTANAMO

REF: A. AMMAN 319


B. 06 AMMAN 8947

C. PORGES-MUBANGO EMAIL

Classified By: Ambassador David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Recent public statements imply that the GoJ is ready
and willing to receive Jordanian detainees from Guantanamo,
but privately GOJ officials insist they need more information
from the USG. According to press reports on January 31,
Foreign Minister Khatib told two members of parliament that
the GoJ was working to release all Jordanians held at
Guantanamo, and that two would soon be released.


2. (C) Mahmoud al-Hamoud, head of the Foreign Ministry's
legal office, told poloff on January 31 that the GoJ was
still considering our request that Jordan accept detainees
Abu Kabir and al Hussein and provide assurances on them.
Hamoud also reaffirmed that the GoJ needed complete
biographical data on all Jordanians held in Guantanamo before
it could evaluate the transfer framework agreement (refs A
and B). In a new request, Hamoud also asked for the names
and biodata of all the Jordanians previously held and
released from Guantanamo.


3. (C) Post understands that the USG has only four confirmed
and one possible Jordanian detainee in custody at Guantanamo
(ref C). Post also understands that State and Defense are
working to provide complete names and biodata for these five.
Post also requests Washington consider meeting Hamoud's
request for similar biodata for all former Jordanian
detainees held at Guantanamo.
HALE