US embassy cable - 05AMMAN2091

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002091 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2010 
TAGS: PREL, KDEM, KMPI, LE, SY, IS, KPAL 
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS 
 
 
Classified By: Charge David Hale, Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D) 
 
1.  (C) Jordanian Foreign Minister Hani al-Mulki convoked the 
entire diplomatic corps on March 13 for what he billed as the 
first in a regular series of group briefings.  Highlights of 
the hour-plus session follow. 
 
2.  (C) Peace Process:  Mulki reviewed Jordan's efforts to 
help reactivate the peace process, consistent with the 
roadmap.  He put some emphasis on a Jordanian desire to 
reactivate the Syrian and Lebanese tracks, but acknowledged 
that Israeli officials had discouraged him from pursuing this 
effort, during his recent visit to Israel.  He reported 
Jordanian satisfaction with the Palestinians' and Israelis' 
intentions to live up to commitments made at Sharm al-Sheikh. 
 He said Jordan hoped to revive 14-15 bilateral agreements 
for cooperation with Israel that had been frozen during the 
Intifada.  A joint team would be formed to develop objectives 
to launch this effort.  Asked about intentions at the Arab 
League, Mulki said the King and others believed more was 
needed to market the Beirut Declaration.  He said the plan 
was to adopt language reflecting Arab states' readiness to 
exchange peace and normal relations to Israel if 1) UN 
Security Council resolutions are fulfilled, 2) the principle 
of land for peace is honored, and 3) the outcome is 
consistent with the Madrid process.  (Comment:  In response 
to Charge's subsequent observation that this language 
elaborated well beyond that shown to him on March 8, Mulki 
said Amre Moussa had "Arab Leagued" the text, but it remained 
a simple formula consistent with the roadmap.  He had even 
joked before the entire corps that what had begun as "Beruit 
Plus" could now be described as "Beirut Minus."  He promised 
to pass the text before our departure for Washington.  End 
comment.) 
 
3.  (C) Iraq:  Mulki stressed Jordan's desire to work with 
the international community to support the unfolding 
political process in Iraq. 
 
4.  (C) Lebanon/Syria:  Mulki said Jordan has always 
supported implementation of all UN Security Council 
resolutions and opposed a selective or contingent approach to 
international obligations.  Jordan therefore advocated full 
implementation of UNSCR 1559.  He was pleased by recent 
statements from Syrian President al-Asad and judged the 
dialogue was now about how to implement the resolution, not 
whether to do so.  While the deployment of international 
observers to monitor Lebanese parliamentary elections was a 
decision for the Lebanese, he offered the personal view that 
it would be better to have observers in order to minimize 
controversy over the legitimacy of the results.  (Comment: 
He later told Charge that language on Lebanon and 1559 had 
been dropped from the draft AL communique on the strength of 
Asad's recent statements about withdrawal.  End comment.) 
 
5.  (C) Reform:  Mulki emphasized Jordan's commitment to 
reform at home and the region, to include political reform. 
The Arab-Israeli conflict impeded progress on reform, but 
should not be allowed to stop it.  He praised the fact that 
each Arab state had reported to the Arab League on its 
progress with reforms, and he hoped a stronger framework 
would be established in Algiers for reforms. (Comment: 
Earlier, he had told Charge Jordan sought AL agreement to a 
monitoring mechanism, schedule, and specific performance 
standards.  End comment.) 
HALE