Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAGHDAD3355
2008-10-19 11:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
JORDAN'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ: WE'RE COMMITTED
how-toVZCZCXRO8969 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #3355 2931146 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 191146Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0011 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003355
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ: WE'RE COMMITTED
TO IRAQ'S STABILITY AND SUPPORT THE SOFA
Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003355
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ: WE'RE COMMITTED
TO IRAQ'S STABILITY AND SUPPORT THE SOFA
Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Jordan's new Ambassador to Iraq, Nayef Fantoul
al-Zeidan, told Ambassador Crocker October 18 that Jordan
sees Iraq's stability as key to its own. Al-Zeidan, who
arrived October 15 and presented credentials to Foreign
Minister Zebari and President Talabani October 16, said that
King Abdullah had told him that strengthening Jordanian-Iraqi
ties "is important to us and important to our friends; we
want to help you any way we can." Ambassador Crocker said
the U.S. and Jordan have a strong strategic relationship.
Al-Zeidan's posting is evidence of that. He noted that
Jordan played a positive, influential and critical role with
Iraq's Sunni tribes in their decision to stand against
al-Qa,ida in Iraq (AQI). Similarly, King Abdullah's
commitment to engage all of Iraq's communities will be very
helpful as we move forward, something al-Zeidan said he
supported fully.
2. (C) Ambassador Crocker stressed that for the first time
since the 1958 revolution, Iraq has a government that has a
fundamentally different and constructive approach to the
region and to the international community more generally.
Both Jordan and the U.S. have a strong interest in supporting
that. In this context, King Abdullah's August visit to
Baghdad was an important signal of support and has helped
build momentum throughout the region, as shown by the
subsequent string of senior Arab officials who have visited
Baghdad including Lebanese PM Siniora, UAE Crown Prince
Muhammad bin Zayid, Egyptian FM Abul Gheit and Bahraini FM
Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmad al-Khalifa. Ambassador Crocker
underlined that both the U.S. and Jordan have an interest in
ensuring that Iraq approves the SOFA so that there is a legal
basis for the continued presence of U.S. troops after
December 31. Jordanian support at this critical juncture, he
stressed, would be extremely helpful. Al-Zeidan responded
that failure to conclude a SOFA "would be a disaster...
Jordan views your presence here as good for stability and we
support it."
3. (C) As the meeting concluded, al-Zeidan said that his
DCM, Adli Khalidi (who was also in the meeting),would remain
in Baghdad with several other Jordanian diplomats to oversee
renovation of the IZ villa that will house Jordan,s new
embassy. Ambassador Crocker said we looked forward to
working with Al-Zeidan and his team and would offer advice
and assistance as we can as they establish their diplomatic
presence here.
CROCKER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ: WE'RE COMMITTED
TO IRAQ'S STABILITY AND SUPPORT THE SOFA
Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Jordan's new Ambassador to Iraq, Nayef Fantoul
al-Zeidan, told Ambassador Crocker October 18 that Jordan
sees Iraq's stability as key to its own. Al-Zeidan, who
arrived October 15 and presented credentials to Foreign
Minister Zebari and President Talabani October 16, said that
King Abdullah had told him that strengthening Jordanian-Iraqi
ties "is important to us and important to our friends; we
want to help you any way we can." Ambassador Crocker said
the U.S. and Jordan have a strong strategic relationship.
Al-Zeidan's posting is evidence of that. He noted that
Jordan played a positive, influential and critical role with
Iraq's Sunni tribes in their decision to stand against
al-Qa,ida in Iraq (AQI). Similarly, King Abdullah's
commitment to engage all of Iraq's communities will be very
helpful as we move forward, something al-Zeidan said he
supported fully.
2. (C) Ambassador Crocker stressed that for the first time
since the 1958 revolution, Iraq has a government that has a
fundamentally different and constructive approach to the
region and to the international community more generally.
Both Jordan and the U.S. have a strong interest in supporting
that. In this context, King Abdullah's August visit to
Baghdad was an important signal of support and has helped
build momentum throughout the region, as shown by the
subsequent string of senior Arab officials who have visited
Baghdad including Lebanese PM Siniora, UAE Crown Prince
Muhammad bin Zayid, Egyptian FM Abul Gheit and Bahraini FM
Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmad al-Khalifa. Ambassador Crocker
underlined that both the U.S. and Jordan have an interest in
ensuring that Iraq approves the SOFA so that there is a legal
basis for the continued presence of U.S. troops after
December 31. Jordanian support at this critical juncture, he
stressed, would be extremely helpful. Al-Zeidan responded
that failure to conclude a SOFA "would be a disaster...
Jordan views your presence here as good for stability and we
support it."
3. (C) As the meeting concluded, al-Zeidan said that his
DCM, Adli Khalidi (who was also in the meeting),would remain
in Baghdad with several other Jordanian diplomats to oversee
renovation of the IZ villa that will house Jordan,s new
embassy. Ambassador Crocker said we looked forward to
working with Al-Zeidan and his team and would offer advice
and assistance as we can as they establish their diplomatic
presence here.
CROCKER