US embassy cable - 04AMMAN4542

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 004542 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2014 
TAGS: PREL, IZ, JO 
SUBJECT: JORDAN PRIVATELY WELCOMES THE IIG; PRESS CRITICAL 
 
REF: AMMAN 4427 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Edward Gnehm for reasons 1.5(b), (d). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY:  Official GOJ reaction to the selection of 
Ghazi Al Yawer as the President of the Iraq Interim 
Government (IIG) was positive.  King Abdullah issued a 
statement of support to the Iraqi leadership, and FM Muasher 
told the press that the GOJ welcomed the appointment of Al 
Yawer.  Press commentary, by contrast, was largely negative, 
with editorials criticizing the IIG as being U.S. dominated. 
Private conversations with contacts have been more positive 
than the press reaction.  Most Jordanians want to see 
stability and prosperity return to Jordan, and we expect are 
inwardly pleased that Iraqis appear to be taking steps to 
govern themselves.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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GOJ WELCOMES IIG; PRESS DOES NOT 
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2. (U) Jordanian government reaction in the press to Al 
Yawer,s selection was positive. King Abdullah sent a 
congratulatory telegram to Al Yawer, saying that the GOJ was 
ready to support the efforts of the Iraqi leadership. 
Meanwhile, FM Marwan Muasher told the press June 2 that the 
GOJ welcomed the appointment of Al Yawer. 
 
3. (U) However, press reports and op-eds were mostly 
negative.  One article quoted U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi as 
saying that Ambassador Paul Bremer is the dictator of Iraq. 
One columnist asserted that Brahimi was &sidelined8 in the 
selections of new Prime Minister Allawi and President Al 
Yawer, and that it demonstrated that the coalition does not 
want to transfer nation-building authority in Iraq to the 
U.N.  Another columnist characterized the selection process 
of Al Yawer as a shameful &auction8 or &bidding event8 to 
a &great and noble Arab republic" (ref A). 
 
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PRIVATE REACTION 
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4.  (C)  In private, Jordanians have been far more positive. 
MP and former Speaker Saed Hayel Srour--Sunni tribal leader 
from the Jordanian side of the Iraqi/Syrian border 
triangle--told PolCouns June 2 that he was very pleased with 
the selection of Yawar, a Sunni tribal chief from the 
dominant Shammar tribe.  Despite the harsh press commentary, 
Srour stressed, most Jordanians want to see stability and 
prosperity return to Iraq and are inwardly pleased that 
Iraqis and taking an increasing role in governing themselves. 
 Former MP Nayef Mawla said that he and most of his friends 
considered the selection process for the IGC legitimate, 
primarily because "Pachachi, the U.S. candidate, was not 
elected as President."  He noted the favorable reactions of 
average Iraqis in street interviews on al-Jazeera, al-Arabia, 
and BBC television.  Ali al-Ayed, the Foreign Minister's 
Private Office Director, commented to PolCouns and PolOff 
June 2 that the GOJ was particularly pleased that Ahmad 
Chalabi and other members of his Iraqi National Congress had 
been excluded from the IIG (see septel for other comments on 
the IIG and revised draft Iraq UNSCR).  Salwa Nasser of the 
Jordanian Forum for Business and Professional Women supported 
the IIG appointments but expressed fear over what she expects 
will be increased violence over the next month, especially if 
Al Yawer or other IIG officials are targeted. 
 
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COMMENT 
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5. (C) Despite the initial negative press commentary, we 
sense that most Jordanians view the selection of the IIG, and 
particularly Yawar as President, as positive because "the 
U.S. candidate" was not chosen.  The more that Iraqis are 
seen in Jordan as in charge of their own affairs, the more 
average Jordanians will support the GOJ's policy of 
assistance in rebuilding Iraq. 
 
6. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
Visit Embassy Amman's classified website at 
 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ 
 
or access the site through the State Department's SIPRNET 
home page. 
 
GNEHM