DEMINING COMMISSION REQUESTS ASSISTANCE WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 002798 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PM/WRA DENNIS HADRICK E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS MOPS JO SUBJECT: DEMINING COMMISSION REQUESTS ASSISTANCE WITH TRAININGS, CLEARANCE ALONG ISRAELI BORDER Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador Beecroft met on December 20 with Prince Mirad bin Zeid Al Hussein, the Chairman of Jordan's National Committee for Demining and Rehabilitation (NCDR). Prince Mirad reviewed the success of the NCDR's 2009 Demining Management course for leaders from National Demining Commissions and thanked the USG for financial support. He requested USG assistance to expand the global training program in 2011 and for a demining and EWR clearance project in the Jordan River Valley along the border with Israel. End Summary. 2009 Training Course a Success -------------- ¶2. (C) Prince Mirad reviewed the success of the 2009 Explosive Remnants of War training course for global leaders. The month-long course concluded on November 5 and was funded by a grant through the Political-Military Bureau's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA). The course was attended by 30 senior leaders from national demining commissions, with representation from countries with large scale demining programs in which the U.S. is active (including Cambodia, Columbia, Iraq, Sudan, Vietnam, and others). Training on topics in program administration and management was delivered by officials from NCDR, UNDP, and faculty from James Madison University's Center for International Stabilization and Recovery. The NCDR will run a second iteration of the course in the first half of 2010 with funds from the same grant. Plan for Additional Global Training -------------- ¶3. (C) Prince Mirad indicated that based on the success of this course and widespread interest from national demining commissions and the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD),his staff has begun preparing a suite of additional courses and training programs on specialized topics in the field with a view towards implementation beginning in 2011. A focus for the NCDR, he said, would be on delivering courses in Arabic (for Arab countries) and French (for countries in Francophone Africa). Prince Mirad said there was some interest by European countries and Canada in helping to sponsor the work and he solicited U.S. financial contributions. Mine Clearance in Jordan Valley Requires Israeli Cooperation -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Prince Mirad also reviewed Jordan's second largest removal and clearance project, located in the Jordan River Valley. There are approximately 267 minefields in land adjacent to the Jordan River in a 188 km stretch from the border with Syria towards the Dead Sea. A key challenge for NCDR is that a significant proportion of the mines are unaccounted for, having shifted under rainwater and periodic flooding. Some mines have been caught in Jordan River currents and slowly moved south. In addition, there are reported cases of Israeli mines along the west bank of the river having shifted, been caught in the river, and settled on Jordanian banks. ¶5. (C) Prince Mirad said the problem presents a danger, not only for Jordanians living in the area, but for popular tourist sites such as the Baptism Site and the Dead Sea, for agricultural development, and for the bilateral relationship between Jordan and Israel. As the project continues, Israeli coordination would be needed for clearance activity in the river and possibly on Israeli banks, though he said no contact had been made with Israeli officials about the project. ¶6. (C) Prince Mirad requested financial assistance for the project. The embassy has forwarded a copy of the project proposal to PM/WRA for review. ¶7. (C) COMMENT: Jordan's NCDR is one of the most active AMMAN 00002798 002 OF 002 and productive national demining commissions in the middle east region and is currently implementing three State Department grants and several grants from other countries. In designing and implementing the global leaders course that concluded in November, Jordan has established itself as an international leader in this field. It is clear the NCDR has ample excess capacity with which to continue to train and mentor officials from other national demining commissions. Beecroft