JORDAN: GOVERNMENT, CIVIL SOCIETY, AND YOUTH

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 000314

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA MGREGONIS, NEA/PI TCWITTES

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM KMPI KWMN JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN: GOVERNMENT, CIVIL SOCIETY, AND YOUTH
DISCUSS REFORM CHALLENGES WITH DAS WITTES

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



1. (S/NF) Summary: In meetings with NEA Deputy Assistant
Secretary Tamara Wittes January 26-28, government officials,
representatives of civil society, and alumni of Middle East
Partnership Initiative (MEPI) programs discussed the
challenges of democratic reform and sought further U.S.
assistance to support Jordan during this critical election
year. DAS Wittes took the opportunity to reiterate U.S.
support for democratic reform in Jordan and also stressed the
crucial role Jordanians themselves have in ensuring free,
fair, and transparent elections; in creating a vibrant civil
society and partnerships that connect public and private
sectors; and in tapping into the capable and dynamic power of
Jordan's youth. End Summary.

PUBLIC TRUST AND THE REFORM FORMULA
--------------


2. (S/NF) Minister of Political Development Musa Maaytah, in
his meeting with DAS Wittes January 26, outlined the
government's efforts "to create faith in the process" of
democratic reform. He said the dissolution of parliament was
a necessary step, backed by 85 percent of the Jordanian
people, according to a recent survey. The former parliament
was "impossible to work with," he said, citing corrupt
practices, parliamentarians' inexperience in the political
sphere, and a lack of trust on the part of the public. He
spoke optimistically about new PM Rifai, saying, "It is not
easy to make reforms, but this one wants it." New codes of
conduct regulating relations between ministries and the
parliament as well as between ministries and the press will
help prevent misuse of power and restore public trust in the
government, he said.


3. (S/NF) Minister Maaytah and DAS Wittes agreed that 2010
will be a critical year for electoral reform. The minister
said the government was engaging in a "strategic dialogue" to
develop an electoral law to address the voting system,
districting, and the quota for women MPs. He said he
envisioned a system that more accurately represents the large
population of urban areas and a higher quota for women MPs,
from the current six to twelve (possibly one from each
governorate). The minister described what he called a
"formula for reform," whereby those benefiting from the
status quo do not lose more than they can afford to lose, so
that they do not become spoilers; and those that stand to
gain from the reform gain enough to keep faith in the process.


4. (S/NF) Maaytah emphasized that progress in electoral
reform must be accomplished "step by step," in order to
resist conservative elements and said that 2010 will be a
critical year not only for electoral reform, but for
stability in Jordan, as well. While stressing that reform
must be "home-grown" and citing his ministry's plans to work
with civil society on an awareness campaign and candidate
training before elections, he asked for further U.S.
assistance, perhaps in training new parliamentarians after
elections. He also stressed USG's political and diplomatic
role in pressing forward a reform agenda with the GOJ. "The
next year will be challenging for us as reformers, and we
need political support in resisting conservative forces," he
said. DAS Wittes encouraged the minister to look at the
coming year as an opportunity to improve representation,
expand the public's confidence in the government, and carry
out reforms for a more democratic and transparent system.

CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE PROTECTION OF THE VULNERABLE
-------------- --------------


5. (S/NF) In a meeting with DAS Wittes January 27, Minister
of Social Development Hala Latouf described challenges her
ministry faces in the "bumpy" path of democratic reform as it
aims to help Jordan's most vulnerable groups. She conceded
that her ministry is viewed by some as weak, but not because
of a lack of political will. "It's a big task to protect and
assist the poor, the marginalized, the handicapped, the
elderly -- especially when we must play politics," she said.
She explained that the ministry tackles the more thorny
issues of domestic violence, so-called honor killings, and
women's rights as "family issues," in order to be more
culturally acceptable and that she sometimes calls on local
religious leaders to issue fatwas protecting women and
children in order to change behavior and raise awareness.
She said that the momentum on democratic reform should be
kept "slow and steady," to avoid setbacks with the Islamists.


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6. (S/NF) On the controversial associations law passed by the
parliament in 2009, Latouf said it was "not an easy law"
given the conservative tendencies and conspiracy theories on
the part of MPs regarding civil society and foreign
influence. However, she said that the end result was a good
law that sets the stage for progress. The law created a
board of registrars that includes representatives from civil
society, established the notion of good governance, and set a
standard for the government's delivery of service, all of
which aim at more transparency and less corruption, she said.
At the same time, the minister conceded that the board will
consider security issues and cultural sensitivities in
approving or denying organizations' registration. DAS Wittes
underscored the importance of a vibrant civil society and
assurances of a transparent process, especially in the
lead-up to elections; to which Latouf responded, "We would
like more assurances, but that would be a hard fight right
now."


7. (S/NF) DAS Wittes and the minister discussed the opening
of Dar Al Wefaq, a women's shelter providing a range of
social services, counseling, legal assistance, and other
services as a one-stop-shop model and the first of its kind
in the Middle East region. Mentioning that this initiative
began as a MEPI project to create public-private
partnerships, DAS Wittes commended Latouf for her leadership
in the project and cited it as a model for effective
partnerships. Minister Latouf agreed and said that the MOSD
is planning to open another shelter in the southern town of
Ma'an. She added, however, that the bulk of service
provision continues to fall to the ministry and that civil
society organizations, with the exception of a few large
ones, have not been stepping up to the plate. With a 100
percent increase in reported cases, the ministry's resources
are overstretched, she said, "and there's no way the
government alone can keep up." Civil society, she said,
needs to be more engaged and bear more responsibility to
create meaningful public-private partnerships.

YOUTH
--------------


8. (U) During her visit to Amman, DAS Wittes met with
numerous youth from the MEPI Alumni Network, MEPI local
grants projects, USAID programs, the media, and civil
society. She repeatedly emphasized that the youth
demographic is key to Jordan's democratic reform path and
urged youth to take an active leadership role in shaping the
dialogue and affecting change. At a dinner with MEPI alumni
young professionals hosted by Ambassador Beecroft, the DAS
initiated a discussion on the respective roles of the private
sector and civil society in helping advance societal
development, sparking a livey exchange of views on the
subject of whether private and public sectors can partner
effectively, or whether their different motivations prevent
cooperation. Some argued that the private sector -- and even
civil society organizations -- can only go so far without
significant government action on reform. Overall, however,
the youth seemed energized and encouraged by the DAS to seek
ways to make a difference in their communities.


9. (S/NF) Comment: DAS Tamara Wittes' visit to Jordan yielded
productive discussions with government officials, civil
society, program partners, and youth on the challenges Jordan
faces in the year ahead, particularly on democratic reform.
Her engagement with these groups served as a good opportunity
to reiterate the U.S. commitment to and support of free,
fair, and transparent elections, a vibrant civil society,
freedom of expression (see septel),and youth empowerment.
End comment.


10. (U) This cable was cleared by DAS Tamara Wittes.

Beecroft