US embassy cable - 04AMMAN9484

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JORDAN AND SYRIA CLOSING IN ON BORDER AGREEMENT

Identifier: 04AMMAN9484
Wikileaks: View 04AMMAN9484 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Amman
Created: 2004-11-29 15:45:00
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
Tags: PGOV PREL KMPI JO SY
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 009484 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KMPI, JO, SY 
SUBJECT: JORDAN AND SYRIA CLOSING IN ON BORDER AGREEMENT 
 
REF: A. DAMASCUS 6559 
     B. DAMASCUS 6096 
     C. DAMASCUS 6046 
     D. AMMAN 8686 
     E. AMMAN 7201 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d). 
 
1. (C) An MFA participant in the Jordanian delegation to 
Damascus that discussed the border dispute told PolOff 
November 24 that the talks were positive and claimed, "Syria 
has given us our land back." He cautioned that the agreement 
had only been initialed by the participants in the bilateral 
meetings and that Jordan hoped to have the agreement signed 
at the ministerial level soon. The agreement is currently 
under consideration by the Jordanian Cabinet and is expected 
to be approved, according to press reports. 
 
2. (U) Local press reflects the optimistic mood of GOJ 
officials regarding the potential resolution of the 
long-standing border dispute between Syria and Jordan 
(reftels). Jordanian Interior Minister Samir Habashneh 
announced November 23 that the agreement puts an end to the 
issue of Syrian encroachment on 125 square kilometers of 
Jordanian land. GOJ Spokesperson Asma Khader confirmed to 
reporters that the deal includes a provision to allow Syria 
to maintain approximately three square kilometers of 
Jordanian land where an estimated 1,000 Syrians currently 
reside. In exchange, Jordan will receive an equal amount of 
Syrian land. 
 
3. (C) DAO septel will report a similar reaction from 
Jordanian military participants in the joint talks. 
 
4. (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 

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