US embassy cable - 05AMMAN2087

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002087 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/PI-OKIRBY, NEA/ELA-SWILLIAMS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2008 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KDEM, KMPI, JO 
SUBJECT: ELECTORAL REFORM AND IFES ASSESSMENT MISSION 
 
 
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES A.I. DAVID HALE 
FOR REASONS 1.4 (B AND D) 
 
 1.  (C) Summary. MEPI Committee members met with IFES local 
coordinator Mohammed Tarawneh on March 8 to further explore 
IFES, request to conduct an assessment of Jordanian 
electoral procedures and laws beginning March 22.  Given the 
sensitivity of the electoral reform issue here, and IFES, 
proposal that its American staff approach Jordanian 
politicians and others, seeking their responses to a lengthy 
questionnaire on this issue, post does not/not support the 
travel of the IFES team at this time, and we request that 
MEPI Washington not approve funding for this travel until 
IFES has submitted, and post has reviewed, the revised 
statement of work memorandum that we requested in January. 
We remain open to the possibility of an IFES mission to 
Jordan at a later date.  We also remain open to a locally 
conducted survey by Jordanian representatives, as discussed 
with IFES previously.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) MEPI Committee members (ADCM, POL, PA, and USAID 
representatives) met with IFES local coordinator Mohammed 
Tarawneh on March 8 in response to IFES, request to field an 
Amcit assessment team for the purpose of conducting 
interviews with Jordanian officials and electoral 
stakeholders, in order to complete their MEPI-sponsored 
regional assessment of electoral systems. The Embassy had 
previously indicated to IFES in January 2005 that the timing 
was not appropriate for their planned activities, but that we 
would consider a revised request, particularly if IFES would 
rely on local assets for their field survey. 
 
3.  (C) The Embassy,s understanding based on the March 8 
meeting is that IFES is not prepared to delegate the 
assessment to local representatives at this time.  Further, 
we have yet to receive the revised statement of work 
requested earlier. Under these circumstances, the Embassy 
does not agree to IFES, plans for an on-the-ground March 
assessment. 
 
4.  (C) Background.  Electoral reform remains a priority for 
Jordan, but the issues involved are complex, and the GOJ has 
had to revise its reform timeline in order to better address 
the need for consensus.  King Abdullah announced his desire 
for a new, "more democratic" electoral law and system in 
October 2003.  Since that time, however, the government has 
yet to unveil a draft electoral law due to the divisive and 
politically sensitive issues surrounding it.  Some prominent 
members of the East Banker old guard, who dominate top levels 
of the government and the security services, are in 
particular very wary of changes to the current system that 
might shift a significant number of seats in the Lower House 
of parliament to representatives from the Palestinian-origin 
majority. 
 
5.  (C)  Background continued. The King recently appointed 
two royal commissions on reform: one to study the creation of 
elected regional assemblies with devolved powers, the other 
to establish a &national agenda.8  The government intends 
to unveil new electoral legislation when the national agenda 
commission reports its conclusions this Fall.  The GOJ has 
informed the Embassy that it does not anticipate seeking 
outside assistance or advice on electoral reform. 
Consequently, given the charged atmosphere surrounding this 
topic, and the GOJ's "hands off" attitude, the arrival of 
American electoral experts making inquiries on proposed 
electoral system changes would be counterproductive. 
Opponents of reform might claim that the American team 
constituted USG intervention and an effort to put an American 
stamp on the electoral system.  It would also open the 
government up to charges that the U.S. was seeking to 
"control" the electoral reform process.  In this way, 
opponents might succeed in derailing any effort to change the 
system.  End Background. 
 
6.  (C) Embassy believes that IFES could have an important 
role to play in assisting electoral reform in Jordan, but the 
timing is not yet ripe for the projects they have in mind. 
Embassy MEPI Committee will continue working with IFES, as 
needed, to refine their workplan and their timetable so as to 
best meet Jordanian reform needs. 
 
HALE 
 
 
 
 
HALE