ACTING A/S WITTEN PRESSES JORDANIAN MINISTER TO DO

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003371

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

GENEVA FOR RMA; DEPARMENT FOR NEA/I, NEA/ANE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2018
TAGS: PREF PREL EAID JO IZ
SUBJECT: ACTING A/S WITTEN PRESSES JORDANIAN MINISTER TO DO
MORE ON IRAQI REFUGEE RIGHTS

Classified By: Classified By: Ambassador Stephen Beecroft for reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Summary: PRM Acting A/S Samuel Witten met on
November 19 in Amman with Minister for Planning and
International Cooperation (MOPIC) Suhair Al-Ali to press the
GOJ to be more creative on vocational training, status and
work permit issues for Iraqi refugees in Jordan. Minister
Ali told Witten that the GOJ continued to do all it could for
Iraqi refugees. Acting A/S Witten stressed that the U.S.
needed more regular, detailed information on numbers of Iraqi
beneficiaries to ensure appropriate levels of USG refugee
assistance. Ali did not offer much in response to Acting A/S
Witten's approach on residence and work status for Iraqis,
but she promised to inquire about limits to Jordanian
vocational training programs for Iraqis. End summary.

Work, Residency and Training--How Much Can Jordan Do
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) In a discussion with Minister Ali, Acting A/S
Witten raised the three key refugee rights sought by Iraqis
in Jordan: 1) the right to work legally; 2) the right to
legal immigration status; and 3) access to
professional-vocational training programs. Witten explained
that the international community understood the burden
represented by the Iraqis for the GOJ and was seeking
innovative ways to share the load, assisting refugees and
helping them prepare financially to return to Iraq.


3. (SBU) Ali cited the global financial crisis as an
additional burden on the Jordanian economy and said that the
government was working to respond to the needs of its own
population, as well as to that of Iraqis. The Iraqi effect
on infrastructure, such as water systems and schools, could
only be addressed by strengthening Jordanian institutions.
Ali continued by saying the residence and work issues were
politically sensitive, and changes in GOJ policy would
resonate negatively with the Jordanian people, many of whom
are as poor as the Iraqis.


4. (SBU) On the issue of vocational training, the Minister
said she was not aware that Iraqis could not participate in
professional-track programs like those offered to Jordanians,
and she promised to look into the issue. She added that it
might be possible for international organizations to offer
professional track vocational training to Iraqis and
Jordanians if present programs were not sufficient to meet
needs.

Congress Wants to Know Where USG Money is Going
-------------- --


5. (SBU) Witten told Ali that many in Washington, including
some in Congress, were concerned about the employment issues
for Iraqi refugees, including the right to work. He also
noted that the USG needs a clear picture of how many Iraqis
are being served, to ensure that Congress and others
understand the way that the significant U.S. funds for Iraqi
refugees were being spent. Witten noted that some in
Congress might take steps toward linking additional
assistance to progress, particularly on the employment issue.
The Minister objected to this notion, saying that
conditioning support would have a counter-productive effect
on all parties.


6. (SBU) The Minister explained that the GOJ would be
transparent in channeling assistance to Iraqis. Witten
stressed the importance of reliable data on refugee numbers
and needs. He said that PRM would require its IO and NGO
partners to provide an accounting of how many Iraqis directly
benefited from their services. Without speaking to the
numbers issue, Ali said the GOJ was already cooperating with
international organizations to identify the needs of Iraqis.
The Minister produced a draft copy of a WHO-sponsored health
survey of the Iraqis in Jordan. She said she was reviewing
the report and would release it shortly to all interested
parties.


7. (C) Comment: While Ali and others in the GOJ clearly
understand our concern on the status and work permit issue
for Iraqis, she offered little in response to this latest
approach for assistance. The Ambassador met with the PM to
raise these same issues on December 20. Details of that
conversation will be reported via septel.

Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman
Beecroft