US embassy cable - 04AMMAN1872

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001872 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, JO 
SUBJECT: JORDAN WELCOMES SIGNING OF IRAQ'S INTERIM 
CONSTITUTION 
 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (SBU) Summary.  The GOJ welcomed the IGC's signing of an 
interim constitution as a "step forward" that contributed to 
rebuilding Iraq's national institutions.  Press reports were 
positive with many calling the interim constitution's signing 
a reassuring and positive step.  Embassy contacts were 
optimistic yet held reservations on certain components of the 
document. End Summary. 
 
GOJ REACTION 
------------ 
 
2. (U) Government spokesperson Asma Khader told the press 
March 9 that the Iraqi Governing Council's signing of an 
interim constitution was a "step forward" that would help 
Iraqis recover their sovereignty and preserve their unity. 
She emphasized that it was a step forward because it was 
decided by the Iraqi people and their authorities and 
consequently would help them recover their responsibilities 
and authority and contribute to the rebuilding of Iraq's 
national institutions. 
 
IN THE NEWS... 
-------------- 
 
3. (U) The signing of Iraq's interim constitution was front 
page news in most of Jordan's dailies March 9.  Daily 
columnist Jamil al-Nimri of the independent, mass-appeal 
Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm wrote March 9 that the interim 
constitution, whatever one's opinion of it is, was a 
reassuring sign in a country mired by opposing forces from 
within and outside Iraq bent on stopping any forward 
political movement.  Center-left, influential Arabic daily 
Al-Dustour March 9 editorialized the signing as "a 
particularly important event" and "an important step 
forward." 
 
EMBASSY CONTACTS HOPEFUL -- WITH RESERVATIONS 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
4. (C) Former senator Husni Ayesh told us he had read the 
text of the constitution and hailed its handling of human 
rights issues.  Dr. Fawzi Samhouri, a human rights activist, 
said he was against giving the Kurds veto power over a 
permanent constitution if not in harmony with their demands 
and referring to Shiites as a sect rather than as ordinary 
citizens.  He warned that treating the Shiites as a sect did 
not bode well for the future of Iraq. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
5. (SBU) Most Jordanians want the experiment in Iraq to 
succeed and welcomed the signing of the interim constitution 
as a sign of forward movement.  The few reservations we heard 
dealt mainly with specific issues within the document, not 
its legitimacy.  End Comment. 
 
6. Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
Please visit Embassy Amman's classified website at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman or through the 
Department of State's SIPRNET site. 
HALE