JORDAN PLANNING TO ATTEND THE ARAB

UNCLAS AMMAN 000638 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR NEA/I - JOSH DAVIS FOR S/I FOR NEA/ELA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL IZ JO SUBJECT: JORDAN PLANNING TO ATTEND THE ARAB INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION MEETING IN ERBIL REF: STATE 18226 ¶1. (SBU) Polcouns delivered reftel demarche February 25 to Jamal Al-Shamayleh, director of the Foreign Minister's private office. Shamayleh was not aware of the issue, but after a quick phone call to the Jordanian parliament's Secretary General, confirmed that Jordan's parliament was SIPDIS planning to send a delegation to attend the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting in Erbil and was assembling its delegation. Shamayleh said the delegation was likely, but not certain, to be lead by Speaker of the lower house Abdelhadi al-Majali, who as president of the AIPU during its meeting in Aqaba last year, had endorsed the holding of this meeting in Erbil. Shamayleh also assured polcouns that the GOJ had no objection to parliamentary attendance in Erbil. ¶2. (SBU) POLOFF followed up on February 27 with Sufian al-Hassan, director of research in Jordan's lower house and the lead official for outside conferences. Hassan had previously indicated that preparations were under way for Jordanian participation, and that an Iraqi delegation had recently been in town to coordinate technical issues with Speaker Majali. Hassan showed POLOFF a two-inch thick file on the conference that he has already prepared for the Jordanian delegation - an indication that attendance is expected. Hassan said that Majali would "almost certainly" be going to Erbil, as his role as the current chair of the organization necessitated his attendance so as to turn over the chairmanship. Hassan noted that other MPs would be joining Majali, but the list was still uncertain due to shifting schedules. HALE