Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10AMMAN305
2010-02-03 10:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

JORDAN: COLUMNIST MISCHARACTERIZES U.S. POSITION

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM JO 
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VZCZCXRO5070
PP RUEHBC RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHAM #0305 0341040
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 031040Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6830
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 000305 

SIPDIS

NEA/ELA AND NEA/PPD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN: COLUMNIST MISCHARACTERIZES U.S. POSITION
ON REFORM

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 000305

SIPDIS

NEA/ELA AND NEA/PPD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN: COLUMNIST MISCHARACTERIZES U.S. POSITION
ON REFORM

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


1. (C) On February 2, Fahd Al-Khitan, a columnist and
managing editor of Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm, wrote a
bizarre column entitled, "Jordanian-American understandings
on the limits of reform." Khitan referred to visits by
several U.S. officials over the past several weeks, including
NEA DAS Wittes and a Millennium Challenge Corporation
delegation. Khitan asserted that the meetings between
Jordanian and American officials were "candid and clear,"
particularly when it came to amending the election law "in a
manner that allows full representation for Jordanians of
Palestinian origin." Visitors also mentioned women's rights
and freedom of expression, he noted.


2. (SBU) Khitan alleged there was a "long discussion" about
these issues and that the Jordanians talked profusely about
the "repercussions of altering the demographic representation
in Parliament." Khitan then stated that efforts to explain
the Jordanian point of view "resulted in an unprecedented
American understanding of those repercussions and
consideration," arguing that the Jordanians "found support
from U.S. Ambassador Stephen Beecroft, who came to a
different and more realistic conclusion, in view of his
living the Jordanian reality, compared with that
long-distance reality of officials in Washington."


3. (SBU) Khitan argued that the visiting officials realized
that the "realistic alternative--and the one that is
possible--is taking gradual steps towards reform, especially
in relation to the election law, and avoiding quick leaps,
because the results will be catastrophic for Jordan and its
internal unity." Khitan concluded that the Jordanian
government was now "free of external pressures and could
continue its plans to develop the election law in a manner
that corresponds to the Jordanian national interest and the
needs for political reform."


4. (C) A good columnist contact meeting Feb. 2 with Info
Specialist mentioned the column and said that she and Khitan
had recently visited a minister for a readout on the future
of reforms here and whether the U.S. was pressuring Jordan on
specific issues. The minister, whom the contact did not
identify, gave a readout that corresponded closely to the
assertions in Khitan's column. Info Specialist concluded
from other details of the conversation that the source was
likely Minister for Political Development Musa Maaytah.


5. (C) Comment: Khitan is generally viewed by Jordanians as
a right-wing East Banker who opposes expanding rights and
privileges to Jordanians of Palestinian origin. Many
Jordanians also believe Khitan is used by conservative
elements of the GOJ and its intelligence service to test
political messages through his writing. In those respects,
the column, which is almost wholly inaccurate, reflects
wishful thinking. If Maaytah was the source of Khitan's
article, he may have been making a characteristically awkward
attempt to throw off the columnist from pursuing a storyline
about U.S. pressure for reforms. The GOJ has very actively
sought to avoid the impression that it is under outside
pressure to make politically unpopular changes in the way it
does business. The Ambassador and staff will continue to
press vigorously--including with Maaytah--on the need for a
free, transparent election law, expanded rights for women,
and freedom of expression.


6. (SBU) Background: Al-Arab Al-Yawm is an independent
daily that regularly takes editorial stands critical of the
government and that highlights the views of Jordan's
opposition.
Beecroft