US embassy cable - 05AMMAN1578

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001578 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2015 
TAGS: PARM, ABUD, JO, AROC, CWC, OPCW 
SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION AND 
HOST COUNTRY AGREEMENTS: JORDAN 
 
REF: A. STATE 28853 
     B. AMMAN 01245 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for Reasons 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
1.  (C) Poloff delivered ref a talking points February 24 to 
Bashir Khassawneh, Director of the Foreign Ministry's Legal 
Department.  Khassawneh said the GOJ was well aware of its 
obligations under Article VII of the Chemical Weapons 
Convention (CWC) and was currently determining if existing 
legislation (or amendments to existing laws) would cover all 
implementation requirements.  If not, the GOJ would move to 
draft and submit to Parliament new legislation to ensure that 
all offenders of the CWC are subject to criminal prosecution. 
 Khassawneh did not anticipate a need for U.S. technical 
assistance at this time. 
 
2.  (C) Poloff also inquired about the status of the proposed 
U.S.-Jordan agreement on challenge inspections under the CWC 
(ref b).  Khassawneh replied that the Jordan Armed Forces 
(JAF) and Ministry of Interior had still not provided any 
feedback from their review of the agreement, but said that he 
would "breathe down their neck" to get a response as soon as 
possible. 
HALE