US embassy cable - 04AMMAN9411

S E C R E T AMMAN 009411 
 
SIPDIS 
 
(CORRECTED COPY - CLASSIFIED BY STATEMENT) 
 
NOFORN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PINR, IZ, JO 
SUBJECT: NO PLANS TO RESCHEDULE IRAQI SUNNI ARAB CONFERENCE 
IN AMMAN 
 
REF: A. STATE 250423 
 
     B. AMMAN 8658 
     C. AMMAN 8545 
     D. BAGHDAD 1905 
 
Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel Reason: 1.4D 
 
1. (S) Summary: GOJ and Iraqi migr contacts tell post there 
are as yet no plans to convene the conference of Iraqi Sunni 
Arabs that was postponed indefinitely two weeks ago. End 
summary. 
 
2. (S/NF) Per ref A, post is seeking updates on any changes 
in the GOJ,s thinking concerning the conference of Iraqi 
Sunni Arabs, planned for November 10-11 but indefinitely 
postponed.  The Jordanian General Intelligence Directorate 
(GID) was the organizer of the postponed conference.  On 
November 24 GID director Saad Kheir confirmed to RMAS that 
the GOJ was not considering rescheduling the conference at 
present.  He undertook to keep post briefed should the GOJ 
again consider reviving this option. 
 
3.  (S) In response to ref A, Charge polled contacts among 
Royal Palace staff and at MFA, who were aware of no plans to 
reschedule the conference.  (King Abdullah, FM Mulki, and 
Royal Court Minister Rifai are traveling in Europe until 
December 1.) 
 
4.  (S) Separately, EmbOff spoke to Amman-based Iraq Sunni 
Arab figure Talal Al-Gaaod, who was a member of the 
organizing committee for the aborted November 10-11 
conference. Al-Gaaod said that, to his disappointment, there 
are at present no plans to resurrect the conference in 
Jordan.  Al-Gaaod stressed his understanding (which tracks 
with post,s) that the Sunni Arab conference project was a 
personal initiative of King Abdullah's, and as such cannot be 
re-launched (even as a "private" effort) here without an 
explicit go-ahead from the King.  To Al-Gaaod,s knowledge no 
such green light has yet been given.  He asserted that the 
GOJ liaison officers who worked with the Iraqi Sunni 
organizers last month have told him that they have no idea 
when or whether a decision on the issue will be made by the 
King.  Al-Gaaod claims Iraqi PM Alawi, who he asserts 
initially encouraged King Abdullah to hold the conference, 
has had "a change of heart" and now opposes it. 
 
5.  (U) Amman,s leading independent newspaper, Al-Ghad, 
reported November 24 that a meeting would soon convene in 
Jordan to discuss Iraqi Sunni Arabs and the January 
elections.  Its source for the item was an unidentified 
''high ranking Arab official.'' 
 
6.  (S) Comment: Despite the Al-Ghad piece, we see no strong 
evidence that the GOJ is moving toward a second effort to 
convene this conference.  Post will continue to engage the 
GOJ on this question and report developments. 
 
7.  (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
HENZEL