US embassy cable - 04AMMAN9252

UNCLAS AMMAN 009252 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/PI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT, EAID, ECON, KDEM, KPAO, PREL, JO, KMPL 
SUBJECT: POST SUPPORT FOR MEPI PROGRAM IMPLEMENTERS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 238836 
 
1. Following are answers to questions posed in reftel. 
 
2.a.  MEPI implementers are not registered as NGOs. 
  b.  Jordan's Ministry of Planning prefers that all 
organizations providing technical or economic assistance 
funded by the USG be registered under the bilateral 
administrative agreement.  MEPI grantees are currently 
registered under this agreement, although MOP has stated a 
preference for a separate MOU controlling all MEPI funds and 
operations in Jordan.  In practice, if an incoming 
organization requests Embassy assistance, they would be 
advised to register under the bilateral agreement.  If an 
organization does not seek Embassy assistance, they would 
probably be directed to register as NGOs through the 
Ministry of  Social Development, a much more arduous 
process. 
 A related question that has not been fully explored: 
Whether a MEPI grantee whose sole purpose is Iraq-related, 
but who establishes its office in Jordan, would be eligible 
to register under the bilateral agreement.  At this point we 
are not aware of any organizations that do not have a Jordan 
component to their funded activities. 
 c.  There are no significant barriers to the services 
mentioned. 
 d.  Implementers have the right to purchase insurance, but 
are not obliged to do so.  Insurance can be expensive.  Post 
has no data on the individual decisions made by 
implementers. 
 e.  Registered organizations enjoy preferential status 
compared to local businesses. 
 f.  Amcit implementers should register their presence with 
the Consular Section and should follow the general security 
guidelines made available to the Amcit community.  RSO has 
provided security briefings and advice to MEPI grantee 
organizations requesting such, but this is not mandatory. 
RSO has also done security audits on potential premises, 
reviewed and advised on evactuation plans, etc. upon 
request. 
 g.  Post is not currently providing the referenced post 
services to MEPI implementers.  As most facilities are 
readily available in Jordan, post believes implementers are 
not unduly disadvantaged. 
h.  We are not aware of any organization mis-representing 
themselves to host government officials.  The larger post 
concern is that representations made by these organizations 
do not run counter to Embassy strategy on sensitive issues. 
This is a continuing concern, especially with growing 
numbers of grantee organizations establishing permanent 
offices in Amman.  Although the NGOs may perceive themselves 
as being independent of the USG, many Jordanians will not. 
 
HALE