JORDAN'S PM SUPPORTS AMENDING ASSOCIATIONS LAW BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003386 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/28/2018 TAGS: PGOV KDEM JO SUBJECT: JORDAN'S PM SUPPORTS AMENDING ASSOCIATIONS LAW BUT DECLINES TO PROVIDE A TIME FRAME FOR SUPPORT REF: A. AMMAN 3117 ¶B. AMMAN 2988 Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft for reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (C) Ambassador urged Prime Minister Nader Dahabi in a December 20 meeting to move forward rapidly on amending the restrictive law of associations, which went into effect on December 15. Ambassador also raised the issue with Chief of the ROYAL Court Nasser al-Lozi in a December 21 meeting, briefing him on the discussion with the PM and the state of the amended law. Lozi agreed to brief the King and look for an opportunity to encourage the PM to action. ¶2. (C) Under previous pressure from the U.S., Europeans, and non-governmental organizations, the PM and the former Chief of the ROYAL Court had committed to amend the current law during this session of parliament, which is expected to run until late January or early February. To this end, Minister of Social Development Hala Lattouf had worked with NGOs in a consultative process to obtain a list of proposed changes. Those changes, in final form, were provided to Lattouf on November 2 and discussed in a meeting by reform-minded ministers November 11 (as reported reftels). As of December 18, the amendments had not yet made their way for review and editing to the Prime Ministry's Legislative and Opinion Bureau, as required before discussion and approval by the full cabinet and a subsequent vote in parliament, according to a contact at the bureau. ¶3. (C) Ambassador made clear to Dahabi and Lozi that the ongoing delay was damaging perceptions of Jordan's commitment to reform, human rights, and moderation. It was also detracting from Jordan's ability to play a leadership role on reform and human rights in the region. ¶4. (C) In response, the PM reiterated his support for amending the law, but was vague on when he would move it through the cabinet and into the parliament. He commented that he needed to balance a number of priorities and to carefully introduce them into parliament. ¶5. (C) Comment: Post will coordinate with key European embassies and NGOs and continue to press the government to pass the amended law before this parliamentary session ends. Additionally, USAID is working closely with the Ministry of Social Development to ensure that implementation of the associations law is as transparent and efficient as possible. Beecroft