US embassy cable - 05AMMAN1340

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001340 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, KPAL, IR, SY, JO 
SUBJECT: FM MULKI CALLS OFF TRIP TO DAMASCUS, CAUTIONS 
SYRIA ON IRAN 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 01308 
     B. AMMAN 01274 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for Reasons 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 1.  (C) FM Mulki told Charge February 18 that he had 
canceled plans to travel to Damascus for bilateral 
discussions after confirming that Syrian PM Mohammad al-Utri, 
accompanied by several other Syrian ministers, had arrived in 
Tehran for cooperation talks with Iranian officials.  Mulki 
said he was concerned that his presence in Damascus following 
Utri's visit to Iran might give the wrong impression 
vis-a-vis Jordan's position on Syrian and Iranian policies. 
Mulki said he had warned FM Shara to be very careful of 
Syria's relationship with Iran, particularly support for the 
transit of Iranian weapons and missile components through 
Syrian territory and airports.  According to Mulki, Shara 
asked him if was saying these things at the behest of the 
U.S., to which Mulki replied (as he did the day before -- see 
ref a) that he was speaking for Jordan and as a friend of 
Syria, who wanted to avoid a regional crisis which could 
affect everyone. 
 
2.  (U) Prior to the cancellation of Mulki's trip, but after 
the collapse of his initiative for an Arab League gathering 
in Syria, local press reported on February 18 that Mulki was 
heading for Damascus to help defuse the "crisis" between the 
U.S. and Syria.  Jordanian daily Al-Ghad quoted Mulki as 
saying that Jordan wanted Syria to be aware of the 
"repercussions in the region" resulting from current events. 
He continued, "The situation has become more pressing for 
consultation with our Syrian brothers on political issues, 
and to encourage Syria to proceed with the implementation of 
international resolutions."  (NOTE: Mulki also called on 
Israel to implement international resolutions related to 
withdrawal of occupied Palestinian territory.  END NOTE.)  He 
was further quoted as saying that the region "needs the U.S. 
presence now more than ever, since it is the patron of peace, 
and with its presence it may be possible to reach a dialogue 
that spares the region a future crisis." 
HALE