APHSCT TOWNSEND'S VISIT TO JORDAN, FEBRUARY 3-5

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 000873 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2017 TAGS: PREL PTER IR JO IS KPAL SUBJECT: APHSCT TOWNSEND'S VISIT TO JORDAN, FEBRUARY 3-5 REF: 06 AMMAN 7737 CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR DAVID HALE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR HOMELAND SECURITY AND COUNTERTERRORISM (APHSCT) FRANCES FRAGOS TOWNSEND AND HER DELEGATION MET SEPARATELY WITH PRIME MINISTER BAKHIT, PRINCE FAISAL, GENERAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR DAHABI, MAJOR GENERAL JAMAL SHAWABKAH (COMMANDER OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND),AND ABDUL FATAH SALAH, MINISTER OF AWQAF ON FEBRUARY 4. PRIME MINISTER BAKHIT STRESSED THAT LACK OF PROGRESS ON THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE PROCESS IS THE ROOT OF EXTREMISM IN THE REGION. PRINCE FAISAL NOTED THAT SETTLING THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION WOULD REMOVE ONE OF THE CARDS THAT IRAN COULD PLAY. BOTH BAKHIT AND FAISAL PROMISED TO "DO WHAT THEY COULD" WHEN QUESTIONED BY APHSCT TOWNSEND ON JORDAN'S DRAFT ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING LAW. GENERAL DAHABI, MAJOR GENERAL JAMAL SHAWABKAH, AND MINISTER SALAH THANKED APHSCT TOWNSEND FOR USG SUPPORT AND PLEDGED THEIR CONTINUED ASSISTANCE. AMBASSADOR HALE, MICHELE MALVESTI, JOHN PEARSON, ADNAN KIFAYAT, AND POLOFF (NOTE-TAKER) ACCOMPANIED APHSCT TOWNSEND IN THE MEETINGS. END SUMMARY. PRIME MINISTER BAKHIT -------------- ¶2. (C) PRIME MINISTER BAKHIT TOLD APHSCT TOWNSEND THAT TERRORISM AND INSTABILITY IN THE REGION WERE DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH A STAGNATED PEACE PROCESS, AND THAT ANY POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS WOULD WEAKEN EXTREMISTS BY REMOVING ONE OF THEIR KEY PRETEXTS FOR DESTABILIZING THE REGION. APHSCT TOWNSEND TOLD THE PRIME MINISTER THAT SECRETARY RICE HAD INVESTED PERSONAL AND POLITICAL CAPITAL ON THE ISSUE, AND THAT PROGRESS TOWARDS A LASTING SETTLEMENT WAS A KEY OBJECTIVE OF THE ADMINISTRATION. SHE NOTED THAT EVEN IF PEACE WERE ATTAINED, COUNTRIES LIKE IRAN WOULD STILL FIND REASON TO DESTABILIZE THE REGION. ¶3. (C) TURNING TO JORDAN'S DRAFT ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING LAW (AML),APHSCT TOWNSEND ASKED BAKHIT IF, IN HIS OPINION, THE AML WOULD PASS DURING THE CURRENT SESSION OF PARLIAMENT. BAKHIT RESPONDED THAT THE CURRENT PARLIAMENT HAD A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT BILLS BEFORE IT, INCLUDING ON THE MUNICIPALITY LAW FOR ELECTIONS AND THE PARTY LAW, AND THAT THESE WERE THE PARLIAMENT'S PRIORITY. HE NOTED THAT THE AML WAS SOMETHING THE ELITE AND BANKERS WERE INTERESTED IN, NOT THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND SO SHOULD NOT BE PUBLICLY PROMOTED TO AVOID NEGATIVE MEDIA COVERAGE. HE CLAIMED THAT CURRENT REGULATIONS AT THE CENTRAL BANK ENSURED JORDANS FULL COMPLIANCE WITH EXISTING UN CONVENTIONS AND INTERNATIONAL BANKING LAWS. ALTHOUGH PROMISING TO DO ALL HE COULD TO PUSH THE AML, BAKHIT SPECULATED THAT KING ABDULLAH WOULD CALL FOR A SPECIAL PARLIAMENTARY SESSION LATER THIS YEAR AND THAT PARLIAMENT COULD THEN DELIBERATE ON THE AML. APHSCT TOWNSEND CAUTIONED BAKHIT THAT THE ENEMIES OF PEACE WILL USE WEAK FINANCIAL SYSTEMS TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. ¶4. (C) PM BAKHIT NOTED THAT JORDAN'S APPROACH TO FIGHTING TERRORISM WAS 'SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT' FROM THAT OF THE US. HE SAID JORDAN USED ECONOMIC, SOCIQ, AND MILITARY MEANS TO FIGHT EXTREMISM. HE SAID THE AMMAN MESSAGE WAS ONE EXAMPLE OF JORDAN'S EFFORTS AND THAT THE GOJ WAS WORKING TO PROMOTE A MESSAGE OF CO-EXISTENCE AND TOLERANCE THROUGH THE SCHOOLS, MOSQUES, AND MEDIA OUTLETS. HE SAID THE KING'S REFORM EFFORTS, INCLUDING PROMOTING DEMOCRACY, IMPROVING HUMAN RIGHTS, AND EVENTUALLY ELIMINATING THE DEATH PENALTY, WOULD HELP BUILD A STABLE SOCIETY. ¶5. (C) ON IRAQ, PM BAKHIT COMPLAINED ABOUT THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT NOT DELIVERING ON ITS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. HE THEN NOTED THAT HE UNDERSTOOD IRAQ'S PRIMARY CONCERN WAS SECURITY-RELATED AND THAT THEY WERE PREOCCUPIED WITH STABILIZING THE COUNTRY. HE NOTED THAT IRAQ'S MULTIETHNIC MAKEUP HAS ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH AND THAT THE COUNTRY'S VARIOUS FACTIONS WERE USED TO FIGHTING EACH OTHER THROUGHOUT HISTORY. TO MAKE HIS POINT, HE NOTED THAT IRAQ'S POPULATION HAD NOT REALLY INCREASED MUCH SINCE THE TIME OF HARUN AL RASHEED. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: BAKHIT DOES NOT REFLECT THE OPINION OF THE DECISION MAKERS IN JORDAN WHEN HE SPEAKS ON FOREIGN POLICY AND SECURITY ISSUES. END COMMENT. PRINCE FAISAL -------------- ¶7. (C) APHSCT OPENED HER MEETING WITH PRINCE FAISAL (THE KING'S FULL BROTHER, AND OFTEN REGENT IN HIS ABSENCE) BY THANKING HIM FOR HIS ASSISTANCE AND PRAISING THE DEPTH OF THE JORDAN - U.S. RELATIONSHIP. APHSCT ALSO TOLD FAISAL THAT HIS AND KING ABDULLAH'S MODERATE MESSAGE AND VISITS TO THE U.S. WERE KEY TO EXPLAINING JORDAN AND ITS UNIQUE SITUATION TO THE U.S. CONGRESS AND THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER. FAISAL EXPRESSED HIS APPRECIATION FOR CONGRESS' SUPPORT, BUT STRESSED JORDAN WILL NEED CONTINUED ASSISTANCE TO FACE REGIONAL CHALLENGES. ¶8. (C) PRINCE FAISAL REQUESTED U.S. ASSISTANCE IN MOVING FORWARD TOWARD PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD. FAISAL SAID THAT THE GOJ NEEDED A FIRM COMMITMENT FROM ISRAEL - A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING IF UNSCR 242 IS SOMETHING ISRAEL CAN LIVE WITH. FAISAL COMMENTED THAT THE U.S. SHOULD WORK ON THE ISRAELIS, AND THAT KING ABDULLAH WOULD WORK ON CONVINCING THE SAUDIS, THE EMIRATIS, AND THE KUWAITIS TO MOVE THE PEACE PROCESS FORWARD; HOWEVER, HE CAUTIONED THAT THERE WAS NO POINT IN PUSHING FOR PROGRESS WITHOUT COMMITMENT FROM ISRAEL. FAISAL NOTED THAT A SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE PALESTINIANS AND THE ISRAELIS WOULD CHANGE THE DYNAMICS IN THE REGION AND ALLOW JORDAN AND OTHER ARAB STATES TO DEAL WITH THE LARGER IRANIAN THREAT. "THE PALESTINIAN DISTRACTION IS ONE OF IRAN'S BEST CARDS, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR CARDS TO PLAY, AND WE NEED TO REMOVE THEM," HE SAID. APHSCT TOWNSEND ASSURED THE PRINCE THAT ACHIEVING PROGRESS ON ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN ISSUES WAS A PRIORITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION. ¶9. (C) DESCRIBING IRAN AS THE REGION'S LONG-TERM THREAT, PRINCE FAISAL SAID THAT PUBLIC ADMIRATION FOR IRAN - WHICH ROSE SIGNIFICANTLY AFTER THE ISRAEL-HIZBALLAH CONFLICT LAST SUMMER - ERODED AFTER SADDAM'S EXECUTION, WITH MANY JORDANIANS CALLING FOR THE IRANIAN EMBASSY TO BE CLOSED AND RELATIONS TO BE SEVERED. "SADDAM'S EXECUTION PUT IRAN IN A BAD LIGHT THROUGHOUT THE ARAB WORLD, AND WED LIKE TO KEEP THEM THERE," HE SAID. HE CAUTIONED THE USG TO BE CAREFUL TO NOT DO ANYTHING TO BOLSTER IRAN'S IMAGE IN THE REGION. ¶10. (C) TURNING THE CONVERSATION TO SYRIAN INFLUENCE IN THE REGION, APHSCT TOWNSEND ASKED THE PRINCE TO COMMENT ON PRESIDENT ASAD. THE PRINCE RESPONDED THAT ASAD DOES NOT FULLY EXERCISE PRESIDENTIAL POWER, IS EASILY RATTLED, AND RELIES ON THE IRANIANS WHEN HE FEELS PRESSURE. FAISAL STATED THAT CONTINUED MILITARY ASSISTANCE WAS IMPORTANT IF JORDAN WAS TO DETER AND PRESSURE SYRIA, AND THAT ASSAD WOULD BE VERY NERVOUS IF HIZBALLAH WERE WEAKENED AND THE SITUATION IN LEBANON STABILIZED. FAISAL CLAIMED THAT MOST PEOPLE SAID ASAD IS BEYOND HOPE, BUT FAISAL FELT THAT HE COULD BE BROUGHT BACK INTO THE ARAB FOLD IF THE TIDE WERE TO TURN AGAINST IRAN. HE SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT TO REMAIN FOCUSED ON THE 'PERSIAN THREAT.' PRINCE FAISAL COMMENTED THAT IRAN'S INFLUENCE ON SYRIA IS SIMILAR TO ITS HOLD ON QATAR. THE PRINCE SAID THAT THE QATARIS HAD DECIDED THAT IRAN WILL BECOME THE BIG POWER IN THE REGION AND ARE ALLYING THEMSELVES WITH IT - THUS THE QATARI "ANTI-ARAB" STANCE. THAT, COMBINED WITH QATARS SUPPORT FOR AL JAZEERA AND ITS SUPPORT FOR HAMAS HAS LED TO SOME GRUMBLINGS ABOUT PUSHING QATAR OUT OF THE GCC. ¶11. (C) MS. TOWNSEND ENDED THE MEETING BY ASKING FOR PRINCE FAISAL'S SUPPORT ON THE AML. SHE OBSERVED THAT THE LAW WAS IMPORTANT TO JORDAN'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND WOULD STRENGTHEN JORDAN'S LEADERSHIP ROLE IN MENA/FATF. FAISAL SAID THAT THE GOJ WAS COMMITTED TO AN AML, AND THAT IF THE LAW DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE CURRENT PARLIAMENT THERE WAS THE POSSIBILITY OF A "TEMPORARY LAW." NOTE: THE KING HAS THE CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY TO ENACT "TEMPORARY LAWS" BY DECREE. PARLIAMENT WOULD STILL NEED TO APPROVE A TEMPORARY LAW AT A LATER DATE TO MAKE IT PERMANENT. END NOTE. MINISTER OF AWQAF ABDUL FATAH SALAH -------------- ¶12. (C) APHSCT TOWNSEND THANKED MINISTER SALAH FOR THE MEETING, AND FOR UPDATING HER ON HIS EFFORTS SAYING THAT SALAH'S MESSAGE OF MODERATION AND RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE IS VERY IMPORTANT. SALAH, USING THE KINGS AMMAN MESSAGE AS AN EXAMPLE, SAID THAT HIS MINISTRY WAS WORKING TO STOP EXTREMISM, WHICH HE REFERRED TO AS A SICKNESS - LIKE THE BIRD-FLU THAT PENETRATES BORDERS WITH IMPUNITY. SALAH SAID THAT THE KING'S AMMAN MESSAGE WAS WELL RECEIVED, AND THANKED THE U.S. FOR ITS ASSISTANCE IN DISTRIBUTING THE MESSAGE AND GIVING REAL ISLAM A VOICE. HE CITED THE KING OF THAILAND'S TRANSLATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE AMMAN MESSAGE AS EVIDENCE OF ITS WIDE ACCEPTANCE. SALAH TOLD APHSCT TOWNSEND THAT NEWSPAPERS, TV, AND RADIO BROADCASTS WERE USEFUL IN THE FIGHT AGAINST EXTREMISM, BUT THAT JORDAN'S IMAMS AND MOSQUES WERE POWERFUL TOOLS THAT SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED. LAMENTING THAT FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS HAD MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIS MINISTRY TO TRAIN AND VET ENOUGH IMAMS, SALAH SAID THAT LAST YEAR SOME MOSQUES OPERATED WITHOUT IMAMS; HOWEVER, WITH THE KING'S ASSISTANCE, APPROXIMATELY 1,900 NEW IMAMS WERE RECENTLY APPOINTED. ¶13. (C) RESPONDING TO APHSCT TOWNSEND'S QUESTION REGARDING THE SCREENING OF SERMONS, SALAH NOTED THAT JORDANS NEW LEGISLATION ON MOSQUE SERMONS (REF A) ENABLED THE GOJ TO MORE CLOSELY MONITOR PREACHING. HE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED HIS MINISTRY'S WORK ON EDUCATION DESCRIBING COURSES FOR IMAMS ON MODERATION, ENGLISH LANGUAGE, AND COMPUTERS. SALAH TOLD APHSCT TOWNSEND THAT IMAMS WERE INITIALLY HESITANT TO ATTEND COURSES ON RELIGIOUS MODERATION OFFERED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE JAF'S WAR COLLEGE, BUT THAT THE COURSES WERE NOW QUITE POPULAR. HE SAID THAT THE MINISTRY HAD RECEIVED OVER 500 PAPERS ON RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE WRITTEN BY IMAMS WHO HAD ENROLLED IN THE COURSES, AND THAT THE MINISTRY DISTRIBUTES THE PAPERS ELECTRONICALLY VIA THE INTERNET. ¶14. (U) APHSCT TOWNSEND REVIEWED THIS MESSAGE. HALE