SUBJECT: (C) A/S WELCH,S MEETING WITH JORDANIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 104902 E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2018 TAGS: IS PREL PGOV JO UN SUBJECT: SUBJECT: (C) A/S WELCH,S MEETING WITH JORDANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SALAH AL-BASHIR ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2008 Classified By: 1. CLASSIFIED BY NEA ASSISTANT SECRETARY DAVID WELCH REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶2. (C) September 29, 2008; 4:30 p.m.; New York, NY. ¶3. (C) Participants: U.S. A/S David Welch, Heather Kalmbach (Staff Assistant), Adam Vaccaro (Notetaker) Jordan Foreign Minister Bashir, Jordanian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Mohammad Al Allaf Jordanian Ambassador to the U.S. Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein, ¶4. (C) SUMMARY. A/S Welch met with Jordanian Foreign Minister Bashir on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on September 29, 2008. The discussion focused on the recent U.S.-Jordan Memorandum of Understanding (MOU); the Quartet and peace process; and the U.S. administration transition, including the status of U.S. efforts in the peace process. Other topics addressed included: upcoming GCC 3 and P5 1 meetings; the stalled civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Jordan; efforts to amend the recent Jordanian NGO law; Jordan's efforts to combat trafficking in persons; and, A/S Welch's next planned trip to the region. END SUMMARY. -------------- U.S.-Jordan Bilateral Assistance MOU -------------- ¶5. (C) FM Bashir thanked A/S Welch for U.S. support, dialogue, and strategic outlook. FM Bashir focused on the recently signed MOU with Jordan, which calls for $360M per year from the Economic Support Fund and $300M per year in Foreign Military Financing assistance. FM Bashir said that Jordan wants a more in-depth discussion about assistance packages in order to actively manage future items. -------------- Quartet -------------- ¶6. (C) A/S Welch said the Quartet is waiting for Tzipi Livni to form a government and that he thinks she will be successful in this effort. A/S Welch said the next Quartet meeting would either occur as part of the Forum for the Future trip in Abu Dhabi in early October or more likely (per Secretary Rice) at the end of the same month. A/S Welch responded to FM Bashir's question about intended participation by saying that the meeting would be limited to the Quartet and the parties (Israel and the Palestinians) at the ministerial level. FM Bashir said the Quartet should invite Arab states to this discussion. FM Bashir said the Quartet statement was positive but also noted that Israel's settlement activities must stop. -------------- -- Administration Transition and the Peace Process -------------- -- ¶7. (C) FM Bashir asked whether the U.S. involvement in the peace process would soon stop and be transferred over to the next administration's transition team. He said that he thought that the proposed meeting with the Israelis and Palestinians to discuss their approaches to the peace process with the Quartet would be the last efforts in the current U.S. administration. A/S Welch responded that the current administration will continue to work on this issue until the end of the administration. A/S Welch said that the United States is waiting for Livni to form a government and become Prime Minister. A/S Welch responded affirmatively to FM Bashir's suggestion that the United States continue to keep pressure and encourage both parties. -------------- GCC 3 and P5 1 Meetings -------------- ¶8. (C) FM Bashir asked A/S Welch about the next GCC 3 and P5 1 meetings. A/S Welch said the UAE will propose a gathering in Abu Dhabi with individual countries invited, although some parties such as China that are not attending the Forum for the Future will not receive invitations. A/S Welch said that UAE FM Sheikh Abdullah reached out to the British and French for attendance. -------------- Jordan Nuclear Cooperation -------------- ¶9. (C) FM Bashir said he told Under Secretary Burns that the planned nuclear cooperation agreement is taking too long to complete. FM Bashir said it is essential to complete this deal before President Bush leaves office and that he did not know the reason for this delay. A/S Welch suggested that FM Bashir write a letter to Secretary Rice concerning this issue. -------------- Jordan NGO Law -------------- ¶10. (C) FM Bashir said Jordan's Prime Minister is open to suggestions and reconsideration of the controversial NGO law passed by Jordan's parliament in July. -------------- Trafficking in Persons -------------- ¶11. (C) FM Bashir said that Jordan has formed two committees to address the trafficking in persons issue and that he will monitor this situation. -------------- A/S Welch's Next Trip to the Region -------------- ¶12. (C) FM Bashir invited A/S Welch to visit Amman during A/S Welch's next trip to the region, which may occur in two weeks. RICE