US embassy cable - 04AMMAN5685

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005685 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2014 
TAGS: PREL, US, JO, KICC 
SUBJECT: JORDAN:  COMING TO CLOSURE ON AN ARTICLE 98 
AGREEMENT 
 
REF: STATE 145167 
 
Classified By: Amb. Edward W. Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (b) (d) 
 
1.  (U)  This is an action request for the Department. 
Please see para 4. 
 
2.  (C)  Ambassador raised forcefully with Foreign Minister 
Marwan Muasher the USG's strong desire to come to closure on 
an Article 98 agreement in two separate meetings on July 7 
and 8.  The Ambassador noted that the GOJ has yet to respond 
formally to the latest USG draft language.  The U.S., he 
argued, has come a long way to address Jordan's concerns but, 
because of federal/state jurisdiction issues, cannot provide 
a 100 percent guarantee of U.S. domestic prosecution of 
alleged offenders.  The Ambassador suggested that USG and GOJ 
reps sit down soon and iron out a final, mutually agreeable 
text. 
 
3.  (C)  Muasher responded that the King's commitment to sign 
an Article 98 agreement with the U.S. still stands, but 
Jordan has legitimate concerns.  The negotiation process has 
been hampered, he argued, by the "episodic" nature of 
discussions thus far.  Muasher said that he is willing to sit 
and work on a final text, and suggested that someone come 
from Washington to Amman the week of July 18-22 to finalize 
language.  All of Jordan's key players -- Muasher, the MFA 
legal advisor, and Jordanian UN PermRep Prince Zaid -- will 
be in Amman that week. 
 
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ACTION REQUEST 
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4.  (C)  We need a further push if we are to get GOJ 
agreement to an Article 98 agreement text.  Post believes the 
best way to do this would be to have an empowered officials 
come from Washington the week of July 18-22 to thrash through 
the final details of text.  Please advise. 
 
Visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at 
 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ 
 
or access the site through the State Department's SIPRNET 
home page. 
GNEHM