JORDAN: KING TASKS NEW PREMIER WITH REFORM,

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 002678

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2019
TAGS: KDEM PGOV JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN: KING TASKS NEW PREMIER WITH REFORM,
TEAMWORK

REF: A. AMMAN 2576

B. AMMAN 2563

Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)


1. (S//NF) SUMMARY: King Abdullah's letter of designation
to Prime Minister Samir al-Rifa'i on December 9 told the new
premier to form a Cabinet that will have a clear plan for
continuing and implementing reform efforts, and emphasized
that teamwork and transparency are essential for reforms to
move forward. The letter also stated that the new parliament
is to be elected and convened "no later than the last quarter
of 2010." As in designation letters past, the King touched
on the economy and reiterated Jordanian foreign policy goals.
Abdullah throughout the letter appears preoccupied with
preventing corruption in the new government, probably
reflecting his view that the previous Cabinet was undermined
by corruption as well as its own internal stalemate on reform
legislation. With Cabinet minister appointments looming,
parliamentary elections anticipated, and talk of real
political change in the air, the King appears to be angling
for the right combination of factors to mold Jordan's
political infrastructure into a better-functioning political
system. END SUMMARY.

PUSH FOR PROGRESS ON POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORMS
-------------- --------------


2. (S//NF) Rifa'i and the Cabinet-to-be are charged with
amending the electoral law and improving election procedures.
(Comment: if completed as intended, these tasks may serve to
distance the new government and the incoming parliament from
the lack of credibility of their predecessors (refs A and B).
End comment.) The letter calls for simultaneous political
and economic reforms and argues that they will encourage
participation in decisionmaking through effective
institutions capable of working transparently and
objectively. Parliamentary elections are to be included in
political reform efforts as part of a "comprehensive
political development program" that advances political party
platforms and "opens the door for all Jordanians to
participate."


MINISTRY-PARLIAMENT HARMONY AND ANTI-CORRUPTION RANK HIGH
-------------- --------------


3. (U) The letter includes specific instructions for each
ministry to draft Cabinet-approved work plans within two
months to ensure that the government "works as one harmonious
team." Moreover, the Cabinet is tasked with drafting a
protocol document to serve as the rules of engagement between
the Cabinet and parliament. The new parliament, once
elected, is encouraged to draft a similar document to guide
cooperation with the Cabinet.



4. (C//NF) More interesting than the King's calls for
reform and teamwork is his focus on preventing corruption in
the new government--this designation letter, to a greater
extent and more specifically than letters past, emphasizes
issues of corruption and includes specific preventative
actions to be taken. The incoming Cabinet is required to
write a code of honor for each ministry that outlines the
"moral and legal" criteria to which the ministers will
adhere. This public document, based on the constitution, is
to serve as a reference for Jordanians to judge each
minister's performance. Additionally, the government is
required to issue a similar document to all public servants
at every level.

THE USUAL ECONOMIC AND FOREIGN POLICY SUSPECTS GET A NOD
-------------- --------------


5. (U) Other domestic and international topics were
addressed in the final pages of the letter. Economic
highlights include the need to achieve food and water
security, fight poverty and unemployment, boost Jordan's
competitiveness through economic and fiscal policies, and
better balance public expenditures. Improving educational
and healthcare programs, protecting the rights of families,
women, and children, and improving public services in general
also made the letter. Turning to foreign policy issues, the
King emphasized Jordan's duty to defend the Palestinian right
to an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital,
and the importance of a two-state solution in accordance with
the Arab Peace Initiative.


6. (S//NF) Comment: The King since his 1999 ascension to

AMMAN 00002678 002 OF 002


the throne has not been able to find the right combination of
ministers, MPs, and domestic sentiment to overhaul Jordan's
political system. While the King's enthusiastic push for
revitalized reforms and expressed anti-corruption sentiment
is noteworthy, his designation letter to the new premier is a
tall order for a Cabinet and a parliament not yet formed,
much less proven. End comment.
Beecroft