US embassy cable - 04AMMAN9602

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 009602 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MASS, EAID, EFIN, IZ, JA, JO, GCC 
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE - UPDATE 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 9151 
     B. AMMAN 8107 
 
Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (C) Ref A previewed requests for assistance that we expect 
King Abdullah to pursue during his December 6 meetings in 
Washington with President Bush and others.  Updates follow on 
likely requests for FMF, ESF, Gulf state support, and debt 
relief. 
 
2.  (C) Military assistance:  Prince Faisal provided DATT 
with documents describing Jordanian requests for 
military aid in terms that are more detailed than past 
exchanges with the GOJ.  These documents have been sent to 
NEA/ELA and to DoD, and post understands they were forwarded 
to White House staff working on preparations for the visit. 
The overall request for additional military assistance is USD 
500 million, up from the USD 400 million request that has 
been under discussion for a year.  The revised list places a 
heavier emphasis on C4ISR and border security. 
 
3.  (C) Economic support funds:  Planning Minister Bassem 
Awadallah, during his late-November visit to Washington, 
circulated papers detailing GOJ plans for programs that would 
be funded with the USD 300 million ESF supplemental 
the GOJ seeks.  The papers are consistent with the programs 
outlined ref A. 
 
4.  (C) Iraq/Jordan border crossing:  In a meeting with 
Charge David Hale December 4, Awadallah placed particular 
emphasis on the proposed new, joint Jordanian/Iraqi border 
crossing facility at Karamah/Trebil, through which 
we estimate forty percent of Iraq's imports currently flow. 
Awadallah noted the December 3 double car 
bomb attack that insurgents launched from Iraq against the 
crossing (see septel in DAO channels.)  Reports indicated 
that the second car bomb, which failed to detonate, was 
targeting a large fuel convoy marshaling on the Jordanian 
side and preparing to cross into Iraq.  Awadallah commented 
that if the second attacker had succeeded, "there would 
be no border crossing." 
 
5.  (C) Gulf States:  In an initiative that the GOJ had not 
previously raised with post in discussions of preparations 
for the King's visit, Awadallah sought USG support for 
Jordanian requests to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE to 
renew 
their concessional oil supplies to Jordan.  The Jordanian 
agreement with Saudi Arabia, which provides free of charge 
50,000 barrels per day (about half of Jordan's crude intake), 
is set to expire in April, 2005.  King Abdullah was in 
Saudi Arabia December 4. 
 
6.  (C) Japanese Debt Relief:  Awadallah indicated the GOJ 
may again ask the USG to seek to persuade Tokyo that 
a debt swap for Jordan (in exchange for Jordanian forgiveness 
of Iraq's balance under the two countries' trade clearing 
account) serves U.S. and Japanese strategic interests. 
Charge Hale noted that the USG has reviewed this proposal, 
and that among our concerns is the unhelpful precedent this 
would set for treatment of Iraqi debt.  Awadallah's argument, 
which King Abdullah may also make, is that Jordan is the only 
aid-dependent state with significant Iraqi "debt", and that 
the GOJ proposal is a win/win for Iraq and Jordan. 
 
7. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
HENZEL