GOJ CONFIRMS TO T UNDER SECRETARY TAUSCHER

S E C R E T AMMAN 002769

NOFORN
SIPDIS

FOR T AND NEA/ELA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2019
TAGS: PARM ECON ENRG PREL KNNP JO
SUBJECT: GOJ CONFIRMS TO T UNDER SECRETARY TAUSCHER
WILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE ASSURANCES FOR 123 AGREEMENT

REF: A. AMMAN 2580

B. AMMAN 2498

C. AMMAN 2290

D. AMMAN 1690

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


1. (S/NF) Summary: Under Secretary Tauscher, during a
December 2 visit to Jordan, emphasized to then-Prime Minister
Dahabi and other senior Jordanian officials the need for
strong commitments on uranium enrichment and reprocessing in
order to conclude a 123 Agreement. She explained that due to
developments in Iran and North Korea, such commitments were
mandatory and did not reflect negatively on Jordan, but
rather better positioned Jordan for leadership on
nonproliferation issues. She and T Senior Advisor Timbie
added that a strengthened agreement would help attract the
financing and international partnerships necessary to proceed
with the nuclear power program Jordan seeks and we support.
PM Dahabi reasserted Jordan's commitment to a safe and secure
nuclear energy program and to participating in international
efforts to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons. He
further highlighted the importance of U.S.-Jordanian
relations and said Jordan was willing to provide what the
U.S. needs in a side letter, rather than as changes to the
Agreement. Tauscher made the case for putting the
commitments on enrichment and reprocessing in the agreement
itself, and asked the government of Jordan to inform us on
whether it can now agree to incorporate these commitments in
the agreement, or would continue to propose a side letter.
If the latter, the Department would explore the possibility
of USG acceptance of a detailed, comprehensive, and
negotiated side letter. Dahabi committed the GOJ to provide
a response. End Summary.


2. (S/NF) Former Prime Minister Nader al-Dahabi opened the
40-minute December 2 meeting with Under Secretary for Arms
Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher by
reasserting Jordan's commitment to establishing a nuclear
energy program that is safe and secure. He reviewed the many
international agreements and protocols on nuclear security
and nonproliferation to which Jordan is a party, stressing
that Jordan wants to be a model for other countries
considering nuclear energy. He reported that while the seven
nuclear cooperation agreements (NCA) that Jordan has signed
with Argentina, Canada, China, France, Russia, South Korea,
and the UK do not contain the specific assurances on uranium
enrichment and reprocessing sought by the U.S., they do
include safeguards and the Additional Protocol. He added
that Jordan would proceed on the basis of public-private
partnerships, which would provide further confidence of
peaceful intent. Dahabi stressed Jordan's desire to conclude
a 123 Agreement with the U.S. as soon as possible and said
that Jordan could provide the commitments the U.S. needs in a
side letter, and not the NCA itself.


3. (S/NF) Under Secretary Tauscher acknowledged Jordan's
active role in international nonproliferation efforts, its
regional leadership on peace and other initiatives, and its
long and close partnership with the U.S. She explained it
was precisely this record of cooperation and leadership,
coupled with regional developments, particularly activities
in Iran as well as North Korea, that necessitated strict
commitments on enrichment and reprocessing similar to those
in the U.S.-UAE agreement. She reviewed the Administration's
policy to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons,
emphasized that the U.S. government speaks with one voice on

this issue, and reminded her Jordanian audience that the U.S.
approval process for 123 Agreements requires congressional
review and that Congress is emphatic that partners not pursue
uranium enrichment or reprocessing. Tauscher and T Senior
Advisor Timbie also outlined U.S. and international efforts
to ensure a reliable fuel supply. They recognized that
Jordan, as a potential uranium producer, had a commercial
interest in the future possibility of enrichment. Timbie
advised that any independent pursuit of technology to enrich
uranium produced in Jordan would be costly and not
commercially competitive; a more plausible approach would be
for Jordan to partner with a firm which already has
world-class technology. In this way, Jordan could gain the
commercial benefits of enrichment without an enrichment
facility in Jordan. He also advised that conclusion of a
solid 123 Agreement would help attract financing and
partners, including American companies, to move nuclear
energy from study to actual construction.


4. (C/NF) Elaborating on Jordan's nascent nuclear program,
Jordan Atomic Energy Commissioner Khaled Toukan reported that
to date, Jordan's approach has been driven by economic
factors and the desire to build international partnerships.
He repeated the PM's statement that the plants would have
international operators and stressed that Jordan would rely
on the international market. He and Foreign Minister Nasser
Judeh stated that due to limited resources and a dependence
on imported energy, the nuclear program is vital to Jordan's
future. Toukan further argued that absent operational fuel
banks, the assurances sought represented operational
constraints for Jordan. He concurred that assurances could
and should be provided, but in contrast to his colleagues,
suggested they be made "once all the mechanisms are in
place," referring to fuel banks and other international
support.


5. (S/NF) Tauscher asked that the GOJ reconsider putting a
commitment not to engage in enrichment or reprocessing in
Jordan into the text of the 123 Agreement, and to get back to
us on whether Jordan can agree to such an agreement or would
continue to seek to put these commitments in a side letter.
If the latter, the Department would explore with the
Administration, other involved agencies, and the Hill, the
possibility of placing the commitments we need in a side
letter. She cautioned that such an approach would require
considerable bilateral efforts and that any letter would have
to be detailed and comprehensive, with the language
negotiated by the two sides. Acknowledging, "the ball is in
our court," Dahabi said Jordan would respond on whether it
could agree to put the commitments on enrichment and
reprocessing in the text, or would prefer a side letter. If
the latter, Jordan would prepare elements of a draft side
letter for negotiation with the USG. He restated Jordan's
eagerness to have a 123 Agreement with the U.S., with FM
Judeh adding such an NCA was in the interests of both
countries and would send a broader message about the benefits
of being a U.S. ally.


6. (C) Ambassador reminded Judeh on December 21 of the
GOJ's promise to outline in writing the commitments it is
prepared to make on enrichment and reprocessing. Judeh
answered that a working group had been formed and a response
was forthcoming. Ambassador will also address nuclear
cooperation and the status of the 123 Agreement with new PM
Samir al-Rifa'i in an upcoming courtesy call.


7. (U) Meeting Participants


U.S.
--------------

Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International
Security Ellen Tauscher
T Senior Advisor Dr. James Timbie
Adam Scheinman, NSC
Natalie E. Brown, Embassy Amman Economic Counselor
(notetaker)

Jordan
--------------

Prime Minister Nader al-Dahabi
Chief of the Royal Court Nasser Lozi
Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh
Jordan Atomic Energy Commissioner Dr. Khaled Toukan
Jafar Hassan, Director of International Affairs, Royal Court
Omar Hourani, Director, Prime Minister's Office
Samer Naber, Director, America's Desk, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs

Visit Amman's Classified Website at:
http://diplopedia.state.sgov.gov/index.php?ti tle=Embassy
Amman

Beecroft