Coordinated Programming for 60th Anniversary of

UNCLAS AMMAN 004777 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR ECA/PE IIP/G/NEA SELINA HOLT NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA, NEA/ELA R/PPR GRETCHEN WELCH ECA ALINA ROMANOWSKI TEL AVIV FOR PAO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: JO IS KPAO KMDR PREL SUBJECT: Coordinated Programming for 60th Anniversary of U.S.-Jordanian Relations and 60th Anniversary of Israel's Independence Reftel: Tel Aviv 3345 ¶1. As mentioned in Reftel, Embassy Amman has begun planning several high-impact events to commemorate 60 years of U.S.-Jordanian diplomatic relations. (While actual U.S. diplomatic recognition came in January 1949, we intend to begin our celebratory events in the summer 2008.) Given Embassy Tel Aviv's expressed interest in bringing similar cultural programming to Israel for the 60th anniversary of Israeli independence and U.S.-Israel relations, Post suggests that Amman, Tel Aviv, and the Department work jointly to examine whether any large-scale or high impact cultural events headed to Tel Aviv for the 60th anniversary of Israel's independence might be suitable and feasible for programming in Amman at the same time. We would, like Tel Aviv, need considerable financial assistance from ECA or R or NEA to program such high profile acts as Wynton Marsalis or a major theater troupe. ¶2. Post will reach out to ECA, NEA, and R to discuss possibilities, and requests that Embassy Amman be kept in mind when discussing possibilities for engaging cultural groups for Israel's 60th anniversary. Given the two countries' proximity and diplomatic relations, it might work out smoothly and efficiently to program a group or troupe in both countries on the same tour. We will also coordinate with Embassy Tel Aviv directly to see what sort of complementarity might exist in our respective plans for our two commemorations. HALE