US embassy cable - 04AMMAN2193

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 AMMAN 002193 
 
SIPDIS 
 
ECA/A/E/USS (PBENDA); NEA/PPD (DBENZE); NEA/ARN; NEA/PI 
(CBOURGEOIS) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OEXC SCUL JO 
SUBJECT: "MIDDLE EAST PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE STUDY OF THE 
UNITED STATES PROGRAMS FOR STUDENT LEADERS FROM THE MIDDLE 
EAST/NORTH AFRICA" 
 
REF: SECSTATE 24912 
 
1.  THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION NOMINATES THREE PRINCIPAL 
NOMINEES: MS. YASMEEN ABDEL-WAHAB HASAN ABU-TALEB, MR. 
LUKMAN FAROUQ ARSALAN, MR. KHALED WAIL FARID ALALI AND MS. 
DALIA H. AHMED AS AN ALTERNATE NOMINEE. 
 
2. THE FOUR CANDIDATES ARE MEMBERS OF THE YOUTH EXCELLENCE 
COUNCIL OF THE KING ABDULLAH II FUND FOR DEVELOPMENT (KAFD). 
A 100 UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WERE CHOSEN FROM ALL PUBLIC AND 
PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN JORDAN.  THE SELECTION WAS BASED ON 
STUDENTS' EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS AND WELL AS 
EXTRA CURRICULA ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.  THE 
COUNCIL INITIATED BY HIS MAJESTY KING ABDULLAH, AIMS TO COME 
UP WITH A MECHANISM ON HOW TO ENHANCE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' 
ROLE IN THE KINGDOM'S POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
LIFE.  IT IS A SERIOUS ATTEMPT TO HEAR STUDENTS' VIEWS ON 
ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE AND TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO SPEAK THEIR 
MINDS ABOUT THEIR OWN CONCERNS AND SUGGESTIONS TO UPGRADE 
EDUCATIONAL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL LIFE. 
 
KAFD WAS ESTABLISHED BY A ROYAL DECREE IN 2001 AS A NON- 
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION SEEKING TO PROVIDE ALL SEGMENTS OF 
THE JORDANIAN COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THE LESS DEVELOPED AND 
PRIVILEGED, WITH NEW AND INNOVATIVE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES 
AIMED AT ALLEVIATING THEIR SOCIO-ECONOMIC BURDENS. HIS 
MAJESTY'S RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ESTABLISHING A 
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION THAT MAY ADEQUATELY ASSUME A 
COMPREHENSIVE AND TARGETED ROLE IN SUPPORTING DEVELOPMENTAL 
AND PRODUCTIVE PROJECTS ACROSS THE KINGDOM WAS THE MAIN 
DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE PROMPT ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FUND. 
 
3.  THE FOLLOWING IS NOMINEES' BIODATA IN PRIORITY ORDER: 
 
FIRST NOMINEE: 
 
PERSONAL INFORMATION: 
A.  NAME: YASMEEN ABDEL- WAHAB HASAN ABU- TALEB 
B.  DATE OF BIRTH (MONTH/DAY/YEAR): 10/17/1982 
C.  CITY OF BIRTH: AMMAN 
D.  COUNTRY OF BIRTH: JORDAN 
E. COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE: JORDAN 
F  COUNTRY (S) OF CITIZENSHIP: JORDAN 
G. NOMINEE'S FULL ADDRESS: TLA' AL-ALI, AMMAN 
   JORDAN 
H. GENDER: FEMALE 
I. MEDICAL, PHYSICAL, DIETARY OR OTHER PERSONAL 
   CONSIDERATIONS: NO PORK, NO ALCOHOL 
J. NAME OF NOMINEE'S COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY: MU'TAH 
   UNIVERSITY 
K. NOMINEE'S FIELD OF STUDY: SHARI'A ISLAMIC STUDIES, 
  SECOND YEAR 
L. WORK EXPERIENCE: COMPUTER TEACHER FOR FOUR MONTHS AT THE 
HAYA CULTURAL, 1998-1999 
EDUCATION: SECOND YEAR STUDENT, FACULTY OF SHARI'A AND 
ISLAMIC STUDIES, MU'TAH UNIVERSITY, JORDAN; TOOK COURSES IN 
"FOOD AND NUTRITION" FOR ONE YEAR AT CAPE TECHNIKON, CAPE 
TOWN- SOUTH AFRICA, 2001; FINISHED SECONDARY SCHOOL FROM 
JUBILEE SCHOOL IN JORDAN "SCHOOL FOR GIFTED STUDENTS", 2000 
ACTIVE MEMBERSHIPS: VICE-CHAIRPERSON OF THE LANGUAGES CLUB 
AT 
MU'TAH UNIVERSITY; STUDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM AT 
MU'TAH UNIVERSITY; MEMBER OF "THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR 
CONSERVATION NATURE" RSCN; MEMBER OF "THE JORDANIAN 
ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY" JAS; MEMBER OF "THE JORDANIAN 
ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY" JES; MEMBER OF "THE INTERNATIONAL 
YOUTH SERVICE" IYS 
SPECIAL INTERESTS: TRAVELING, ASTRONOMY AND HOROSCOPES, 
ENVIRONMENT, SQUASH, SWIMMING, BADMINTON, CAMPING, READING 
NEWSPAPERS AND SCIENTIFIC MAGAZINES, POLITICS, 
CLAY-WORK, AND PLAYING XYLOPHONE 
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: CARS MECHANIC; FIRST AID 
COURSE; XHOSA COURSE; LEADERSHIP COURSE; COMMUNICATION 
SKILLS; DRAMA; COMPUTER COURSES "DOS", WINDOWS 98, 
FRONTPAGE, VISUAL BASIC, ADOBE PHOTOSHOP; ARABIC HANDWRITING 
BEATY; ASTRONOMY; FRENCH COURSE; AND WEATHER FORECAST 
SHORT LIST OF PUBLICATIONS: PRESENTATION BOUT "CHILD ABUSE" 
1999; COMPUTER PROJECT ABOUT "JORDAN"1999; A BOOK ABOUT "HIS 
LATE MAJESTY KING HUSSEIN'S LIFE" 1997-2000 
PREVIOUS TRAVEL AND STUDY OR RESEARCH EXPERIENCE IN THE 
U.S.: NONE 
S.ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: FLUENT 
T. FUTURE STUDY OR CAREER PLANS: YASMEEN WOULD LIKE TO 
CONTINUE HER STUDIES IN YOUTH, WOMEN RIGHTS, AND ISLAMIC 
STUDIES 
U.  POST JUSTIFICATION:  MS. ABU TALEB IS A SECOND YEAR 
STUDENT OF SHARIA AND ISLAMIC STUDIES AT MU'TAH UNIVERSITY, 
KARAK.  MU'TAH IS THE THIRD LARGEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN 
JORDAN ESTABLISHED IN 1981, AS A NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR 
MILITARY EDUCATION.  A CIVILIAN CAMPUS WING WAS ADDED IN 
1986.  ENROLLMENT IS 20,000 STUDENTS.  MS. ABU TALEB HAS AN 
IMPRESSIVE RECORD OF EXTRA-CURRICULA ACTIVITIES AT THE 
CAMPUS AND AS MEMBERS IN SEVERAL NGOS JORDAN.  SHE IS ALSO 
ACTIVE IN ORGANIZING SEVERAL SESSIONS ON YOUTH ACTIVITIES 
SUCH AS YOUTH PROBLEMS AND CHILD ABUSE ISSUES. 
 
SECOND NOMINEE: 
 
PERSONAL INFORMATION: 
A. NAME: LUKMAN FAROUQ ALA'EDDIN ARSALAN 
B. DATE OF BIRTH (MONTH/DAY/YEAR): 10/30/1985 
C. CITY OF BIRTH: AL AQABA 
D. COUNTRY OF BIRTH: JORDAN 
E. COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE: JORDAN 
F.  COUNTRY (S) OF CITIZENSHIP: JORDAN 
G. NOMINEE'S FULL ADDRESS: P.O.BOX 13, SWEILEH 
11910,JORDAN TELFAX: 00962-6-5332739 
H. GENDER: MALE 
I. MEDICAL, PHYSICAL, DIETARY OR OTHER PERSONAL 
CONSIDERATIONS: NONE 
J. NAME OF NOMINEE'S COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY: UNIVERSITY OF 
JORDAN 
K. NOMINEE'S FIELD OF STUDY: COMPUTER ENGINEERING 
L. WORK EXPERIENCE: VOLUNTEER WORK: ADMINISTRATIVE WORK, THE 
SOCIETY OF THE FRIENDS OF THE CHECHEN-INGUSH REPUBLIC; 
TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE FOR STUDENTS IN SECOND TO FORTH 
GRADE MASHREK INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS 
M. EDUCATION: SECOND YEAR STUDENT OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING AT 
THE UNIVERSITY OF JORDAN, AMMAN JORDAN, JORDAN UNIVERSITY OF 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 2003, IRBID, JORDAN, COMPUTER 
ENGINEERING FOR ONE YEAR THEN TRANSFERRED TO UNIVERSITY OF 
JORDAN; LONDON EXAMINATION BOARD- UK- GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF 
EDUCATION (GCE), MASHREK INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS, 2002,AMMAN- 
JORDAN; UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE- UK- INTERNATIONAL GENERAL 
CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION (IGCSE) MASHREK 
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS, 2001,AMMAN-JORDAN 
N. ACTIVE MEMBERSHIPS: THE CHARTERED ENGINEERING 
INSTITUTION FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, THE 
BRITISH COMPUTER SOCIETY-UK; THE SOCIETY OF THE FRIENDS 
OF THE CHECHEN INGUSH REPUBLIC- JORDAN, 2002; YOUNG 
LEADERSHIP PROGRAM; LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IN UNITED NATION 
UNIVERSITY 
O.  SPECIAL INTERESTS: SCOBA DIVING, SNORKING, AND SWIMMING 
P.  EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: 2003- PROFESSIONAL 
ASSOCIATION FOR DIVING INSTRUCTORS (PADI)-UK; 
2002- PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR DIVING INSTRUCTORS 
Q.  SHORT LIST OF PUBLICATIONS: 
R.  PREVIOUS TRAVEL AND STUDY OR RESEARCH EXPERIENCE IN THE 
U.S.: NONE 
S.  ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: VERY GOOD 
T.  FUTURE STUDY OR CAREER PLANS: LUKMAN WOULD LIKE TO 
ESTABLISH HIS OWN BUSINESS FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS 
 
U. POST JUSTIFICATION: 
MR. ARSALAN IS A SECOND YEAR STUDENT OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING 
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF JORDAN.  HE IS A MEMBER OF SEVERAL 
COMMITTEES:  THE CHARTERED ENGINEERING INSTITUTION FOR 
INFORMATION SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, THE BRITISH COMPUTER 
SOCIETY-UK; THE SOCIETY OF THE FRIENDS OF THE CHECHEN INGUSH 
REPUBLIC- JORDAN, 2002; YOUNG LEADERSHIP PROGRAM; LEADERSHIP 
PROGRAM IN UNITED NATION UNIVERSITY. 
 
THIRD NOMINEE: 
 
PERSONAL INFORMATION: 
 
A. NAME: KHALED WAIL FARID ALALI 
B. DATE OF BIRTH (MONTH/DAY/YEAR): 01/19/1984 
C. CITY OF BIRTH: UNITED KINGDOM 
D. COUNTRY OF BIRTH: UNITED KINGDOM 
E. COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE: JORDAN 
F.  COUNTRY (S) OF CITIZENSHIP: JORDAN 
G. NOMINEE'S FULL ADDRESS: P.O.BOX 866,AMMAN 11953,JORDAN 
   TEL:079-6808270 
H. GENDER: MALE 
I. MEDICAL, PHYSICAL, DIETARY OR OTHER PERSONAL 
   CONSIDERATIONS: NO PORK, NO ALCOHOL 
J. NAME OF NOMINEE'S COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY: PRINCESS SUMAYA 
   UNIVERSITY TO TECHNOLOGY 
K. NOMINEE'S FIELD OF STUDY: SECOND YEAR COMPUTER 
   ENGINEERING 
L. WORK EXPERIENCE: 2002-PRESENT FREE LANSING WEB DESIGN; 
   WORKED AS A NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR FOR 
   ICI, DULUX COLORING CENTER FOR TWO MONTHS IN 2003; 
   WORKED AS ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR AT BAZIAN COMPUTER 
   CORPORATION; 
   FOR TWO MONTHS IN 1998, CASHIER AT BAHA GROCERY 
M. EDUCATION: SECOND YEAR COMPUTER ENGINEERING AT PRINCESS 
    SUMAYA UNIVERSITY FOR TECHNOLOGY; TAWJIHI CERTIFICATE 
    SCIENTIFIC BRANCH 
N.  ACTIVE MEMBERSHIPS: MEMBER AT KING ABDULLAH 
    II DEVELOPMENT FUND 
O.  SPECIAL INTERESTS: BASKETBALL; SWIMMING; TRAVELING; 
    WATCHING MOVIES 
P.  EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: FRENCH LANGUAGE 
Q.  SHORT LIST OF PUBLICATIONS: NONE 
R.  PREVIOUS TRAVEL AND STUDY OR RESEARCH EXPERIENCE IN THE 
    U.S.: NONE 
S.  ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: FLUENT 
T.  FUTURE STUDY OR CAREER PLANS: KHALED WOULD LIKE TO 
    PERSU HER EDUCATION THEN OPEN HIS OWN COMPANY 
U.  MR. ALALI IS A SECOND YEAR STUDENT OF COMPUTER 
ENGINEERING.  HE WORKED AT COMPUTER COMPANIES TO INCREASE 
HIS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN HIS FIELD.  HE IS AN ACTIVE 
MEMBER OF KING ABDULLAH FUND. HE HAS AN IMPRESSIVE 
LEADERSHIP POTENTIALS TRHOUGH HIS ACTIVE PARTICIPATIONS IN 
YOUTH ACTIVITIES AND CONFERENCE HELD IN JORDAN. 
 
ALTERNATE: 
 
PERSONAL INFORMATION: 
 
A. NAME: DALIA H. S. AHMED 
B. DATE OF BIRTH (MONTH/DAY/YEAR): 03/03/1983 
C. CITY OF BIRTH: ADEN 
D. COUNTRY OF BIRTH: ADEN 
E. COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE: JORDAN 
F.  COUNTRY (S) OF CITIZENSHIP: JORDAN 
G. NOMINEE'S FULL ADDRESS: AL-NUZHA ST. APT 14, TEL: 
   5659754 CELL:079-5654689 
H. GENDER: FEMALE 
I. MEDICAL, PHYSICAL, DIETARY OR OTHER PERSONAL 
   CONSIDERATIONS: NO PORK, NO ALCOHOL 
J. NAME OF NOMINEE'S COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY: AMMAN- NATIONAL 
   UNIVERSITY 
K. NOMINEE'S FIELD OF STUDY: COMMUNICATION-ELECTRONICS 
   ENGINEERING 
L. WORK EXPERIENCE: NONE 
M. EDUCATION: AMMAN-NATIONAL UNIVERSITY- COMMUNICATION- 
   ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING, 3RD YEAR; HIGH SCHOOL YAMAN 
   MODERN SCHOOL 
N. ACTIVE MEMBERSHIPS: MEMBER AT KING ABDULLAH II 
   DEVELOPMENT FUND 
O.  SPECIAL INTERESTS: READING, INTERNET SURFING 
P.  EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: NONE 
Q.  SHORT LIST OF PUBLICATIONS: NONE 
R.  PREVIOUS TRAVEL AND STUDY OR RESEARCH EXPERIENCE IN THE 
    U.S.: NONE 
S.  ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: FLUENT 
T.  FUTURE STUDY OR CAREER PLANS: DALIA WOULD LIKE TO 
    CONTINUE HER EDUCATION. 
 
--ACTION OFFICER: CAO, DONNA WINTON, PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION, 
AMERICAN EMBASSY; E-MAIL: TEL: (962-6) 590-6620; FAX; (962- 
6) 592-0121 
 
4.  PLEASE ADVISE ACCEPTANCE. 
GNEHM