US embassy cable - 04AMMAN6173

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006173 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2014 
TAGS: PREL, IZ, JO 
SUBJECT: ALLAWI HAS PRODUCTIVE VISIT TO JORDAN 
 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.5 (b), (d). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY:  Jordan FM Marwan Muasher told A/S Bloomfield 
and Charge July 19 that the then-ongoing visit of Iraqi 
Interim Government (IIG) Prime Minister Allawi was proceeding 
positively.  Both sides showed a clear political will to 
establish solid, positive bilateral relations and to resolve 
any outstanding problems.  King Abdullah told the media that 
he supported Allawi and the IIG, and that security in Iraq 
was "integral" to Jordan's security.  He reaffirmed Jordan's 
determination to continue aiding the Iraqis.  The King and 
Allawi also discussed reviving economic and trade 
cooperation, particularly in the oil sector (septel). 
Jordan's Islamists denounced the visit of the U.S. "puppet." 
End Summary. 
 
2. (C) Jordan FM Marwan Muasher told A/S Bloomfield and 
Charge July 19 that the on-going visit of IIG PM Allawi 
demonstrated there was political will on both sides to have 
positive relations.  Following an initial private meeting 
between the two PMs, and then a meeting of the full 
delegations, Ministers broke down into side meetings to solve 
problems.  These included the Planning, Finance, Interior, 
Energy, and Health Ministers as well as the Central Bank 
Governors.  Among the topics for discussion were improving 
border procedures, resuming oil imports, and building a new 
Iraq-Jordan pipeline (details septel).  The two sides agreed 
to establish a bilateral Higher Commission, chaired at the PM 
level.  Its first session is set to be held in three months' 
time. 
 
3. (U)  Official GOJ reaction to Allawi's visit was positive. 
 The King reaffirmed Jordan's support for Iraq and Allawi and 
said security in Iraq was "integral to Jordan's security." 
Press reports also said the King and Allawi discussed 
reviving economic and trade cooperation, particularly in the 
oil sector (septel).  One op-ed called the visit a "victory 
for Jordanian diplomacy" and called upon the government to 
begin looking to generate greater public support for the 
government's positive relations with the IIG.  Another 
commentator noted positively the apparent strength of the 
bilateral relationship, to the point that even a Chalabi-led 
Iraq would probably pursue good ties with Jordan. 
Contrasting the positive GOJ statements, local media reported 
the Islamic Action Front's (IAF) criticism of the visit, with 
the IAF calling on the GOJ to not provide any aid or 
assistance to Allawi, who it characterized as a U.S. 
"puppet." 
 
4. (U) Jordan television carried an interview with Allawi 
July 20.  Allawi said that talks with King Abdullah and PM 
al-Fayez focused on developing bilateral ties and economic 
cooperation.  He also said that security and unemployment are 
the two challenges facing Iraq at the present and that part 
of his tour aimed at discussing border issues, terrorism, and 
the movement of terrorists from "one place to another." 
 
5. (U) Iraqi contacts in Jordan said the visit was a good 
step toward improving Jordan-Iraq ties.  They believed it 
would help solidify IIG credibility in Jordan and the region. 
 However, they were quick to point out a need to resolve 
on-going Jordan-Iraq border issues as a step toward restoring 
security in 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. 
HALE