JORDAN NONCOMMITAL ON HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

UNCLAS AMMAN 002072 SIPDIS IO/RHS COLLEEN NEVILLE AND AMY OSTERMEIER, DRL/MLGA LYNN SICADE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL UN UNHRC SUBJECT: JORDAN NONCOMMITAL ON HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL PRIORITIES REF: STATE 93358 (SBU) PolOff delivered on September 10, reftel points outlining U.S. priorities for the Human Rights Council to Mr. Ghaith Malhas and Dr. Manal Mazahreh, Director and Deputy Director of the Foreign Ministry's Human Rights Department. Malhas was noncommittal in both his response to U.S. priorities and priorities for Jordan. Malhas indicated that the Jordanian Mission in Geneva is preparing for the next session and promised to discuss both U.S. and possible Jordanian priorities with them next week. Regarding the freedom of expression resolution, Mazahreh stated that "generally speaking" such resolutions are also discussed within the Organization of the Islamic Conference and Arab League and that Jordan usually follows the consensus. Mazahreh, however, stated that Jordan must first see proposed language and possible amendments before committing support to any of the resolutions. Post will follow-up with the MFA after their discussions with Geneva and will report septel any substantive updates. Beecroft