VCI A/S DESUTTER DISCUSSES WMD, IRAN, AND NORTH

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 003172 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ELA, VCI/FO E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2018 TAGS: PREL PARM PINS KNNP KTIA JO SUBJECT: VCI A/S DESUTTER DISCUSSES WMD, IRAN, AND NORTH KOREA WITH JORDANIAN OFFICIALS REF: A. AMMAN 2986 ¶B. STATE 111754 ¶C. AMMAN 2994 Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: In conversations with GOJ officials during her October 25-29 visit to Jordan, visiting Assistant Secretary of State for Verification, Compliance, and Implementation (VCI) Paula DeSutter discussed the importance of countering Iranian and North Korean weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs, Libya, the proposed 123 Agreement with Jordan, the idea of a Middle East WMD-free zone, and the work of her bureau in verifying compliance with international treaties and agreements. A/S DeSutter, accompanied by the Ambassador, met with the Foreign Minister, the Interior Minister, and the Chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission. The Foreign Minister reiterated Jordan's support for the compliance resolution before the UN First Committee but was noncommittal when asked to sign on as a cosponsor (Ref A). The Chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission briefed the A/S on Jordan's efforts to build nuclear power plants and train engineers and technicians on best practices. DeSutter also met with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and with the Director General of the Cooperative Monitoring Center (CMC). At the CMC, A/S DeSutter was briefed on their regional export control and border security training programs. These bilateral meetings were held on the margins of A/S DeSutter's participation in an international conference on biosecurity held in Amman from October 27-29, 2008. End summary. Iran and North Korea -------------- ¶2. (S) A/S DeSutter and her interlocutors discussed the importance of holding Iran to its commitments under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The GOJ officials spoke of their concerns regarding Iran both from a security standpoint and a political perspective. Foreign Minister Salaheddine Al-Bashir stressed that Jordan was concerned about any country in the region holding weapons of mass destruction and pointedly said that included both Israel and Iran. He worried that the P5 1 would cut a deal with Iran on the nuclear issue which would allow them to continue building political power and influence in the region. Bashir suggested that Jordan and the Gulf states should be present during the Iran talks since they have a stake in the outcome. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Khaled Sarayreh outlined the extent to which Iran has interfered and expanded their influence in Iraq, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories. He worried that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a strategic threat to Jordan. Sarayreh warned that a strike against Iran would constitute a "win" for the regime, however, and weaken regional moderates politically. Interior Minister Eid El-Fayez opined that influencing Iran would be more difficult than securing North Korea's agreement to dismantle its nuclear program since "Iran wants power but North Korea wants food." A/S DeSutter stressed the importance of sanctions and any other efforts at enforcement that target the Iranian regime rather than the population and cited the need to hold the regime to its commitments. 123 Agreement -------------- ¶3. (S) FM Bashir acknowledged receipt of the Secretary's letter on October 27 indicating the 123 Agreement would most likely be signed by the end of 2008 (Ref B). He welcomed the news and stated that the agreement was important to increasing Jordan's technical capacity. Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Khaled Toukan also emphasized its importance and was keen to see progress. He explained the GOJ's plans for two nuclear reactors and stressed the importance of scholarships and academic exchanges for the development of Jordanian nuclear scientists (Ref C). He also outlined the GOJ's measures to maintain transparency and accountability as it builds its program. A/S DeSutter saluted these efforts and encouraged continued openness, noting that the points the Chairman made would be useful in AMMAN 00003172 002 OF 002 explaining what Iran had not done. She discussed the possibility of conducting joint training programs with CMC Director retired General Mohammad Shiyyab after being briefed on CMC's regional export control and border security training programs that could contribute to a regional compliance regime. In particular, she noted the Report of the UN experts' panel on "Verification in All its Aspects," and the possibility of the CMC hosting follow-on meetings. Free-Zones -------------- ¶4. (S) A/S DeSutter sought her interlocutors' views on the feasibility of declaring an offensive missile-free zone in the Middle East. She asked if development of missile defense could provide a way to establish such a free zone in the region, serving as a buffer against noncompliance. General Sarayreh expressed a strong desire to obtain missile defense capability, but FM Bashir expressed skepticism that various regional players would agree to such a free-zone. UNFC Resolution, Libya, and VCI Compliance Report -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) A/S DeSutter briefed interlocutors on the status of the USG resolution pending before the United Nations First Committee. She noted that Jordan had agreed to support the resolution, but urged the Foreign Minister to consider co-sponsorship. The Foreign Minister remained noncommittal to this request, but promised to look into the issue. During her discussions with all interlocutors, the A/S noted that her bureau, VCI, had taken the lead in removing WMD from Libya, but pointed out the differences between the Libyan case and the current discussions with North Korea and Iran. She also reviewed VCI's Congressional mandate to write an annual compliance report, alerting GOJ officials that a new compliance report will be coming out soon. Biosecurity Conference -------------- ¶6. (SBU) A/S DeSutter's bilateral meetings were held as part of her visit to Jordan to attend the International Forum on Biosecurity held from October 27-29 and organized by the Arab Institute for Security Studies (ACSIS),with the co-sponsorship of three other organizations, VERTIC (Verification Research, Training and Information Centre),the South African Institute for Security Studies, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A/S DeSutter spoke on the conference's first panel, on "Attribution and Deterrence of Biological Weapon Use." During this useful international conference, A/S DeSutter spoke with ACSIS Chairman HRH Princess Aisha bin Al-Hussein about training opportunities in the United States and with Dr. Maria Rita Gismondo about her bioterrorism work in her laboratory in Milan, including an upcoming conference she is planning for 2009. ¶7. (U) This message was coordinated with A/S DeSutter. Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman Beecroft