US embassy cable - 04AMMAN7360

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 007360 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, IS, KPAL, JO 
SUBJECT: MUASHER MEETING WITH S/P DIRECTOR REISS: PEACE 
PROCESS, IRAQ, AND REFORM 
 
REF: AMMAN 7202 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (C)  Summary:  FM Muasher expressed his frustration with 
the stalemate in the peace process, calling the Palestinians 
"unhelpful."  Jordan is committed to helping Iraq stabilize, 
but Muasher noted the GOJ's growing concern about Iran's 
intentions in Iraq.  He criticized Syria's "negative" impact 
on regional issues.  Muasher expressed support for the G-8 
reform initiative, but repeated Jordan's reservations. 
Muasher expressed appreciation for Ambassador Reiss' 
readiness to assist in creating a policy planning office in 
the MFA.  End Summary. 
 
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FRUSTRATION OVER PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI CONFLICT 
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2.  (C)  During a meeting on August 31, Foreign Minister 
Muasher told S/P Director Mitchell Reiss, Deputy Director 
Barry Lowenkron, S/P member Charles Dunne, and Charge that 
the Palestinian-Israeli conflict remains the front-burner 
issue for Jordan.  He emphasized that for Jordan, there is 
only one acceptable solution: the establishment of a 
Palestinian state.  The GOJ wants a stronger commitment from 
Israel that the end game is a viable Palestinian state. 
Noting the Palestinians have been "unhelpful," Muasher 
lamented that Arafat's personal status has become more 
important to him than achieving a state.  The King will not 
shy away from criticism of either side if he thinks it 
appropriate because "time is not on our side." 
 
3.  (C)  Muasher noted that Jordan is taking a back seat to 
Egyptian efforts on three fronts: pressuring Arafat ("Arafat 
doesn't listen to us"); helping Palestinian factions reach a 
security arrangement to end suicide bombings; and encouraging 
Israel to abandon objectionable policies, such as targeted 
killings and home demolitions.  Muasher says Cairo should be 
out in front because the Gaza withdrawal plan is of paramount 
concern to Egyptian interests.  However, the Gaza withdrawal 
must not be an end in and of itself; a pull out from the West 
Bank must follow in accordance with commitments outlined in 
the roadmap.  Muasher's frustration was evident: "After 
pushing so hard for the roadmap, we feel we can't do much at 
this point.  We are just waiting for something to 
happen...I've never been so frustrated." 
 
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IRAN A GROWING CONCERN IN IRAQ 
------------------------------ 
 
4.  (C)  Muasher told Ambassador Reiss that Jordan is fully 
supportive of Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi and helping to 
rebuild Iraq.  Allawi's is the "best government that ever 
could be under these circumstances," adding that Jordan is 
working to build a long-term relationship with its eastern 
neighbor.  He said Jordan is already seeing results on the 
trade front, and is doing its best to help with Iraq's 
security through training its police officers.  However, the 
security situation is paramount.  He said Jordan is extremely 
worried about Iran's intentions: "It is clear to us that they 
will use democracy once to bring the Shi'a to power in Iraq." 
 This, he predicts, is a recipe for civil war in Iraq.  "We 
think you should do more to prevent this," he told Ambassador 
Reiss.  While it is important to have majority rule, it is 
equally important to have minority rights.  The Shi'a, he 
claims, only consider the first part of the equation 
important, according to Muasher. 
 
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SUPPORT FOR BMENA, BUT RESERVATIONS ABOUT GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
5.  (C)  Muasher said that the GOJ is taking a "serious 
approach" towards reform in Jordan and regionally, noting 
Jordan's significant role in pushing for a commitment on 
reform at the recent Arab league meeting in Tunis.  He said 
Jordan does not want to stop at mere declarations, however. 
Muasher mentioned that Jordan will host a meeting in December 
with six Arab countries to discuss judicial reform.  Noting 
Jordan's intention to participate in the New York meeting 
later this month to discuss the Forum of the Future, he feels 
that "we are on the same page" about regional reform. 
However, while many gaps have been bridged, Jordan still has 
problems with how the "Broader Middle East" has been defined. 
 "You can talk to whoever you want," he said, "but we don't 
see how we can get together with Afghanistan and Pakistan. 
Among the Arab states, we already have many mechanisms 
through which to work," but there is too little in common 
with countries beyond the Arab world, he said. 
 
6.  (C)  Muasher cautioned that the U.S. must give serious 
thought at how the initiative will proceed to ensure momentum 
is not lost.  Muasher said it would be of "major help" if the 
U.S. could successfully convince the Egyptians to 
participate.  He said Cairo's attitude towards reform had 
improved, and believed it a good first step that they are 
willing to commit in name, at least.  Alluding to Egypt, 
Muasher also advised the U.S. to consider linking reform 
progress to aid.  He said it is a point the GOJ has also 
reinforced with the EU, who he claims gives more aid to Syria 
than it does to Jordan, and "the Syrians are doing nothing!" 
 
 
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SYRIAN ROLE IN LEBANON A "DISASTER" 
----------------------------------- 
 
7.  (C)  Asked for an assessment of Syria, Muasher told 
Ambassador Reiss that Syria had taken a "negative" role on 
all issues of importance to Jordan, including Iraq, the peace 
process, and reform.  Indeed, the Syrians are not helping 
themselves in these matters, and what they are doing in 
Lebanon to extend President Lahoud's term is a "disaster," 
according to Muasher.  He noted that Lahoud takes no 
positions independent of Damascus, and this is working 
against the popular will in Lebanon.  He said that while King 
Abdullah maintains a positive personal relationship with 
Bashar al-Asad (sic), the GOJ sees the Syrian President as 
weak. 
 
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MUASHER SEEKS HELP ON POLICY PLANNING 
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8.  (C)  Muasher sought Ambassador Reiss' advice for 
developing policy planning office in the Foreign Ministry. 
Lamenting that a lack of human resources is the main 
stumbling block, he asked for Ambassador Reiss' suggestions 
of how to get started.  Ambassador Reiss said it is important 
for any such office to have complete independence, but to 
have good relations with other bureaus, including the 
research department.  Muasher expressed appreciation for 
Ambassador Reiss' offer of technical assistance in this 
regard and willingness to meet with GOJ representatives in 
Washington for further discussions on this topic. 
 
9.  (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