US embassy cable - 04AMMAN6179

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006179 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2014 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, EFIN, JO, UN 
SUBJECT: MFA LEGAL ADVISOR ON JORDAN'S "DECLARATION" ON THE 
TERRORISM FINANCE CONVENTION 
 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.5 (b) (d) 
 
1.  (C)  Charge and PolCouns queried MFA Legal Department 
Head Samer Naber July 21 on the meaning of Jordan's 
"declaration" about national liberation movements on the 
Convention on the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. 
Naber clarified that the Jordanian statement was a 
"declaration" and not a "reservation" and would have no 
substantive effect on Jordan's implementation of the 
convention.  He said that Jordanian law on terrorism is tied 
to terrorist acts against civilians and does not provide any 
relief or distinction for national liberation movements. 
Jordan's terrorism and financing laws require only a "direct 
or indirect relation" to a terrorist act to have effect, 
Naber explained. 
 
2.  (C)  Agreeing that this declaration "looks bad on paper 
in Washington and at the EU," Naber argued that the 
declaration was aimed at addressing the political concerns of 
conservative and Islamist members of Parliament to assure 
full ratification of the convention.  Once the instrument of 
ratification passes the Parliament, he said, the MFA can look 
at ways to address U.S. and EU concerns about the language in 
the declaration, perhaps by submitting an additional 
declaration. 
 
3.  (C)  COMMENT:  While Naber maintains that the declaration 
will have no effect on Jordan's ability to implement its 
commitments under the convention, we are not as sanguine on 
this point, and Jordanian courts could interpret the 
declaration differently.  Even if Naber is correct, the 
declaration sends the wrong political message that Jordan 
excuses violent acts by "national liberation movements." 
Charge will again raise this issue with the Foreign Minister. 
 
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. 
HALE