US embassy cable - 05AMMAN1384

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001384 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR CA/VO/F/P: MBTatuch, NEA/ELA 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: CVIS, CPAS, PREL, KFRD, JO 
SUBJECT:  JORDAN TO MAKE JORDANIAN PASSPORTS AVAILABLE TO 
INVESTORS -- FOR A PRICE 
 
Ref:  04 STATE 259656 
 
1. (SBU) Summary:  The Government of Jordan intends to issue 
"special case" passports to a select group of investors in 
Jordan, with the primary beneficiaries said to be Iraqi 
businessmen.  While the passports will not confer some 
rights (e.g., voting, transmission of citizenship), they 
will permit the bearers to present themselves as Jordanian 
citizens for immigration, residency in Jordan, and other 
purposes.  Though the initial group of recipients will 
reportedly be limited, this "nationality-for-pay" program 
has security implications should it expand to a broader 
range of Iraqis and nationals of other countries.  End 
Summary. 
 
2.  (U)  Via circular diplomatic note KT/1/338 dated 16 
January 2005 (text in para 6), the MFA has informed 
embassies in Amman of its intention to begin issuing 
"special case" passports to non-Jordanians, conferring 
"similar rights and privileges" as those enjoyed by 
Jordanian citizens, with the exception of "political rights 
and other issues."   Contacts within the Civil Registration 
Department of the Ministry of Interior (MOI) provided 
additional details:  these passports are to be made 
available to investors in Jordan, with an issuance fee of JD 
15,000 (USD 21,216).  The passports will have a five-year 
validity and, like Jordanian passports issued to 
Palestinians, will not bear a national I.D. number because 
the holders are not considered full citizens of Jordan. 
 
3.  (U)  In a separate conversation February 15, Colonel 
Mohamed Jariri of the MOI's Directorate of Borders and 
Foreign Persons told consoff that King Abdullah decided to 
make these passports available after meeting with a group of 
forty rich Iraqi investors "who proposed projects in Jordan 
like those seen in Dubai."  Jariri affirmed that the bearers 
will be accorded VIP treatment at entering/exiting Jordan, 
where their new special-colored passports (white, red or 
yellow, Jariri speculated) would move them quickly through 
formalities.  He also opined that these new passports would 
be available to persons of any nationality seeking to invest 
in Jordan, not just Iraqis. 
 
4.  (SBU) Comment:  Based on information available thus far, 
it appears the only qualifications to obtain one of these 
passports are that one be rich, state an intent to invest in 
Jordan, and have JD 15,000 available to pay the application 
fee.  It is not clear whether the GOJ intends to set down 
clear guidelines as to exactly what, beyond this, qualifies 
one as an "investor."  While we would expect Jordanian 
security agencies to vet these applications closely, this 
new program nonetheless potentially offers an opportunity 
for Iraqis -- or others -- to obtain a new nationality 
relatively quickly. 
 
5. (U) Comment (cont'd):  These new passports may also 
complicate the GOJ's response to the USG request (reftel) 
for GOJ confirmation that Jordanian passports will remain 
valid for six months past expiration date.  Our informal 
understanding from government contacts is that the GOJ will 
permit Jordanian citizens whose passports bear their 
national I.D. number to return to Jordan at any time, 
regardless of when the passport expired.  But Palestinians 
and others -- like these investors -- holding passports not 
bearing national I.D. numbers would not be permitted to 
return after the document's expiration date.  Post awaits 
official response from the GOJ on its policy on this issue. 
End comment. 
 
6. (U)  Informal translation of diplomatic note KT/1/338 
dated 16 January 2005: 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hashemite Kingdom of 
Jordan presents its compliments to all diplomatic missions 
accredited at the Hashemite Royal Court.  The Ministry 
wishes to advise that it has been determined that a regular 
Jordanian passport/special case will be issued according to 
Section 10 of the law of Jordanian passports.  Please be 
informed that all holders of this passport will have similar 
rights and privileges enjoyed by regular Jordanian passport 
holders with the exception of the political rights and other 
issues. 
 
The Ministry would like to request that all the esteemed 
Missions accept the passport referred to above. 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes this opportunity to 
renew to the esteemed Embassy the assurances of its highest 
consideration. 
 
End text. 
 
7.  Baghdad minimize considered. 
HENZEL