US embassy cable - 04AMMAN7203

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 007203 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2014 
TAGS: PREL, ECON, KMPI, JO, UNGA 
SUBJECT: FORUM FOR THE FUTURE - JORDAN WANTS MORE COMPANY 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 177377 
     B. CAIRO 6248 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. David Hale, for reasons 1.4 b/d 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  FM Muasher says Jordan will attend the FFF 
meetings September 23-24 in New York if Egypt or Saudi Arabia 
are also there.  End summary. 
 
2. (C)  A/DCM delivered reftel points, agenda and paper on 
the G-8 Broader Middle East Initiative Forum for the Future 
to Manar Dabbas of FM Muasher,s personal staff August 19. In 
several subsequent conversations, Dabbas and other MFA staff 
said Jordanian attendance would likely hinge on the 
participation of either Egypt or Saudi Arabia. 
 
3.  (C) On August 25 Charge, accompanied by visiting NEA DAS 
Elizabeth Dibble, urged FM Muasher to support and participate 
in the FFF meetings.  Muasher was fully briefed on the U.S. 
request, and replied that, while Jordan strongly supports 
reform in the region, it "can,t carry" the burden of reform 
in the Arab world with only Bahrain and Yemen for partners. 
It was becoming increasingly difficult for the GOJ to 
publicly associate itself with an effort perceived by the 
Arab public as "led by outsiders."  Muasher was encouraged by 
what he had heard about Egyptian ideas for a separate Arab 
League meeting (ref b.)  However, to commit Jordan now to 
attending the FFF meetings in New York, he needed "at least" 
Egypt or Saudi Arabia to also attend. 
 
4.  (C) Muasher also voiced concern about the FFF effort 
"lumping together" the Arab world and other Muslim countries. 
 He urged the U.S. to encourage the other G-8 supporters of 
reform to structure a separate effort for the non-Arab 
participants. 
 
5.  (C) Comment: Without Egyptian or Saudi attendance, we 
expect to have to appeal to a higher level to convince the 
GOJ to attend the meetings planned for September 23-24. 
HALE