JORDANIAN KING'S VISIT FOCUSED ON BILATERAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 002649 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON MARR GG JO RS SUBJECT: JORDANIAN KING'S VISIT FOCUSED ON BILATERAL ISSUES, NOT GEORGIA REF: A. MOSCOW 2618 ¶B. AMMAN 2484 ¶C. MOSCOW 390 Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells for reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Jordanian King Abdullah's August 24 meeting with Medvedev focused on bilateral issues and was not intended to demonstrate Jordan's support for Russian actions in Georgia, according to both Russian and Jordanian diplomats. The agenda was heavy on economic issues, including ways to increase trade and investment. While the Georgian crisis was discussed, and Abdullah offered token humanitarian aid to the region as a gesture to his host, the leaders did not wade deeply into the issue. Abdullah's meeting with Medvedev had been timed to follow the King's attendance at a Moscow arms show that displayed a new rocket propelled grenade (RPG) jointly developed by Russia and Jordan. Russian and Jordanian diplomats told us that Abdullah's trip had been planned well in advance of the outbreak of the Georgian crisis, and was intended to continue the personal diplomacy between Medvedev and Abdullah that is a key element of healthy Russia-Jordan relations. While in Moscow, Abdullah also met Putin for what was described as a "semi-private" meeting. End summary. Despite the Timing, The Visit Wasn't About Georgia -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) MFA First Secretary Elbrus Kutrashev told us that Medvedev's August 24 meeting with King Abdullah was not arranged as a demonstration of Jordanian support for Russian actions in Georgia. Medvedev did present Russia's position on the breakaway regions, and publicly thanked the King for Jordan's donation of humanitarian aid, but understood that this was not the reason for the visit. Kutrashev noted, however, that two of the U.S.' key Middle Eastern allies, Jordan and Israel, appeared to have struck a balance in their relations with the U.S. and Russia through their response to the Georgian crisis (ref A). ¶3. (C) Kutrashev said that the Medvedev-Abdullah meeting in Sochi, where the Russian President was on a working vacation, had been planned months in advance, to coincide with the King's trip to Moscow to attend an arms show (ref B). Medvedev had extended the invitation to Abdullah during their previous meeting in Astana in July. Medvedev and Abdullah, who have now met three times, hoped to continue the strong personal diplomacy started by Putin and Abdullah (ref C). Canceling Meeting Would Have Sent the Wrong Signal -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Jordanian Consul Hasan Saraireh told us that, considering the importance Amman placed on ties with Moscow, Abdullah determined that it was not in Jordan's interest to cancel the visit because of the Georgian controversy. Abdullah was in Moscow August 21-23 to attend an arms exhibition where a new RPG jointly developed by Russia and Jordan was displayed. The Moscow leg of the trip was supposed to be a "semi-private" affair, flowing from the close personal relationship Abdullah and Putin developed over the course of Putin's Presidency; nonetheless, the Russian White House trumpeted the visit, with Putin's role in hosting Abdullah in Moscow feeding speculation over the Prime Minister's obvious ascendance in the ruling tandem. Saraireh could not offer any details of their conversation. ¶5. (C) Saraireh told us that Jordan's small donation of humanitarian supplies to the conflict region was a token gesture made in response to Russian concern with the Arab states' muted reaction to the Georgian crisis. During a meeting to plan the King's visit, an MFA official commented on the "quiet profile" the Arab states had maintained on Georgia, leading the Embassy to recommend to Amman that some type of gesture be made such as an aid donation. Saraireh was not sure of the size of the donation made by the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, but noted that in public statements the Jordanians were careful to say that the aid would go to the "conflict zone" and did not specify South Ossetia. ¶6. (C) Saraireh reiterated that Jordan was anxious to increase economic ties with Russia and attract Russian investment. Jordan was successful in having the Russian company Bazalt work with the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau on the new RPG displayed at the Moscow arms show, and hoped to continue working with Russian arms manufacturers in this vein. While Russia and Jordan continued to discuss potential nuclear cooperation, Jordan had determined to go with a French company to build a planned MOSCOW 00002649 002 OF 002 civilian nuclear reactor. Russia could still help Jordan establish a nuclear research facility in its university or become involved in uranium extraction. Jordanian companies will be well represented at ExpoArabia, a first of its kind trade exhibition that will be held in Moscow in October under the auspices of the Russia-Arab Business Council. BEYRLE