JORDAN: TRYING TO SET A POSITIVE TONE AT THE ARAB

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001402 SIPDIS NEA/ELA, NEA/FO E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL JO SUBJECT: JORDAN: TRYING TO SET A POSITIVE TONE AT THE ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL REF: SECSTATE 62909 Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (C) PolChief shared reftel points with Ambassador Bisher Al-Khasawneh, Director of Foreign Minister Judeh's private office. Khasawneh confirmed that FM Judeh had been instrumental in postponing the date of the Arab League (AL) ministerial by one week. "We knew that Netanyahu would be giving a major speech and we also knew that people were going to need some time to calm down after hearing it," said Khasawneh. "We must focus on setting a positive tone in Cairo, so it was better to postpone." ¶2. (C) Khasawneh said Jordan had also been working with the Arab League and Egypt to finalize a meeting agenda which does not include a formal communiqu at the end of the session, but rather a short press statement from the AL Secretary General. "If we try to agree upon a communiqu, the entire meeting will be spent negotiating minute turns of phrase. We have more important things to discuss during this time." He also said that Jordan did not want other regional governments to use the communique as a way to "vent their frustrations" after the Netanyahu speech. "This will not be helpful." However, Khasawneh said it was unclear if Jordan, Egypt, and the Arab League would be able to keep a communiqu off the agenda. "We may not win that fight." ¶3. (C) Khasawneh responded negatively when asked if a list of concrete and specific Arab gestures, in line with the Arab Peace Initiative, would be finalized during the ministerial. "The atmosphere is still too raw after the Netanyahu speech. In addition, FMs are not in a position to make these decisions on behalf of their countries. It's above their pay grade and requires agreement from the heads of state throughout the region." ¶4. (C) Finally, Khasawneh confirmed that he and the FM would be traveling to Trieste to participate in the upcoming meetings with the Quartet. Although he was pleased that the discussion group had been expanded to include more Arab countries in the region, he also believes this makes it difficult to have a truly meaningful discussion between "the really serious actors who are in a position to move the process forward." Khasawneh said it will be very important to have a clear public statement in Trieste. "The region was so hopeful after President Obama's Cairo speech, but then Netanyahu disappointed us all. We need a positive sign for the Arab street to encourage them to remain patient." Beecroft