US embassy cable - 04AMMAN8866

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 008866 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, IZ, JO 
SUBJECT: JORDAN - NEW FM ON ARTICLE 98 
 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. David Hale, reasons 1.4 (b) and 
(d). 
 
1.  (C)  During an introductory call October 27 on 
newly-appointed Foreign Minister Hani Al-Mulki, 
Charge raised the high priority the USG places on 
finalizing an Article 98 agreement.  Charge noted 
that the GOJ had been considering A/S Bloomfield's 
letter, and expressed his view that the two 
governments were very close to agreement. 
 
2.  (C) Al-Mulki confessed that he was aware of 
the letter but had not had time to "digest" it 
since his appointment.  He offered to meet again 
with Charge after returning from Egypt on/about 
November 7, and to provide an informed response. 
 
3.  (C) In a subsequent meeting, Ali Al-Ayed, 
director of the minister's private office, told 
Charge that Al-Mulki might consider re-engaging 
with the USG on this issue through either the 
Jordanian embassy in Washington, or through 
Jordanian UN PermRep Prince Zaid Bin Ra'ad, 
rather than doing so personally.  Zaid recently 
resigned as President of the Assembly of States 
Parties to the International Criminal Court, 
which may possibly make him personally more 
flexible on the draft text than he has been to 
date. 
HALE