JORDANIAN MFA ON ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL, SOMALI

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002039 SIPDIS NEA/RA FOR MICHELLE CLOUD E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2019 TAGS: PREL AL IS SA SO JO SUBJECT: JORDANIAN MFA ON ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL, SOMALI EMBASSY IN AMMAN REF: STATE 92629 Classified By: DCM Lawrence Mandel for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche on September 8 to Samer Naber, Director of the Americas Department at the MFA. On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Naber said that Jordan's goal at the Arab League Ministerial was to "keep momentum going, avert negativity, and be as positive as possible." Naber noted that as in previous ministerials, FM Nasser Judeh would be active both behind the scenes and in public in promoting the way forward in the runup to negotiations. Naber added, however, that Israel's recent announcement on settlement construction will make the job of the moderates more difficult, especially after condemnatory remarks by PA President Abbas and Arab League Secretary-General Amr Musa. ¶2. (C) On Iraq, Naber agreed that the Arab League should condemn the recent attacks in Baghdad. Reflecting on PM Nader Dahabi's recent trip to Baghdad, Naber hoped that in the future Jordanian relations with Iraq would take place through a continual dialogue rather than jumping from crisis to crisis. One of the supposed outcomes of Dahabi's visit was a commitment on both sides to meet more regularly, both through mutual visits and through a previously created joint commission. Naber doubted that either side was completely willing to follow through on this promise, however. ¶3. (C) Naber reiterated Jordan's strong support for the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Somalia. He confided that the TFG recently approached the Jordanian government about establishing an Embassy in Amman. (Note: Somalia has not maintained an Embassy in Jordan for some time. There is not even an honorary consul for Somalia in Jordan. End Note.) Following an interagency meeting on the subject, a letter was sent to the PM recommending approval. PM Dahabi agreed, and MFA officials communicated their response to the TFG earlier this week. Naber said that there has been no further response from the TFG since then. He suspects that TFG officials are now looking at the logistical and financial arrangements that will be needed before an Embassy opens in Amman. Speculating that the TFG does not have the financial resources to fund an Embassy in Amman, Naber said that the Somalis will likely approach the Saudi government for support. When asked about reciprocal moves, Naber indicated that Jordan's Embassy in Riyadh would continue to cover Somali issues for the time being. Beecroft