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