US embassy cable - 05AMMAN2378

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 002378 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, KMPI, JO 
SUBJECT: NATIONAL AGENDA COMMITTEE MOVES FORWARD 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 2043 
     B. AMMAN 1309 
 
Classified By: Charge Christopher Henzel for Reasons 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (C) The royal committee charged with drafting a "national 
agenda" is reportedly on track to complete a final report in 
September.  Committee members have divided their work into 11 
separate subjects and established outside working groups that 
include experts and non-government representatives. 
Discussion on electoral reform and women's rights will, 
however, remain within the committee.  Contentious debate has 
erupted at times between traditionalists, who argue for 
limited change, and those who advocate a real overhaul of the 
status quo.  The recommendations in the September report will 
be used to draft "action plans" for each government ministry, 
along with implementing legislation, with progress on 
concrete benchmarks and timetables monitored by the 
Government Performance Unit under Deputy PM Marwan Muasher. 
Sustained support from the palace and ensuing governments 
will be needed if the national agenda project is to have 
lasting impact.  End Summary. 
 
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OFF THE GROUND 
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2.  (C) Poloffs met March 20 with Ashraf Zeitoon, personal 
staffer to Deputy PM and Minister for Government Performance 
Marwan Muasher.  Zeitoon explained that after a relatively 
slow start (ref B), the 26-member Steering Committee named by 
the palace in February (and overseen by Muasher) to establish 
a "national agenda" was now fully active.  Meeting once a 
week, normally on Saturday, the committee had divided its 
work into 11 separate subject groupings (e.g., investment, 
education, employment, etc.) and formed eight different 
working groups, each comprised of more than 20 experts and 
private citizens, to examine these subjects.  Based on the 
findings of the working groups and conclusions of committee 
members, the committee will prepare a comprehensive report in 
September that will include specific goals in each subject 
area along with concrete measures needed to achieve them. 
Zeitoon said the report would also include recommendations 
for the drafting of needed implementing legislation. 
 
3.  (C) To ensure that the final committee report will not 
collect dust, Zeitoon said it will be used as the basis for 
drafting detailed "action plans" for each government ministry 
that will incorporate specific benchmarks and timetables. 
The Government Performance Unit (GPU) - a branch of Muasher's 
new Ministry for Government Performance -- will closely track 
progress on each plan and hold ministers accountable. 
Meanwhile, another branch of the ministry, the Government 
Communications Unit, will help publicize and "market" the 
national agenda to the Jordanian public, which he 
characterized as being in a foul mood over perceived stagnant 
or declining living standards.  Zeitoon explained that the 
committee report will also heavily influence future 
government budgets.  For example, if the report emphasizes 
the need for more government investment in education, funds 
allocated for education would increase accordingly.  Zeitoon 
cautioned, however, not to expect immediate results.  The 
national agenda will be a long-term planning document guiding 
Jordan's development over the next ten years, while action 
plans will likely take at least several months to draft and 
finalize during 2006. 
 
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CANDID CONVERSATIONS 
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4.  (C) According to Zeitoon, discussion among Steering 
Committee members has been candid and, at times, contentious. 
 Outspoken advocates for reform during past meetings include 
former Minister of Planning Bassem Awadallah, UNDP Assistant 
Secretary-General Rima Khalaf, Director of the Center for 
 
SIPDIS 
Strategic Studies Mustafa Hamarneh, and Islamic Centrist 
Party member and women's activist Nawal Faouri.  Zeitoon 
contrasted these voices with some traditionalist members who 
"just don't get it" and who resist broad reforms on the 
grounds that Jordan has "already changed enough."  (NOTE: 
Zeitoon did not mention the names of such traditionalists, 
but did say they included members appointed from Parliament. 
END NOTE.)  He also said that Abd al-Latif Arabiyat of the 
Islamic Action Front (IAF) had played a surprisingly 
constructive role to date.  Zeitoon was confident that the 
strong pro-reform advocates would prevail and produce a final 
report recommending real, not incremental, change. 
 
5.  (C) When asked about political reform, specifically a 
proposed new elections law and legislation on women's rights, 
Zeitoon responded that these topics had not been delegated to 
a working group for study.  Rather, the members of the 
Steering Committee had chosen to examine these more 
controversial items themselves.  While the September report 
would include recommendations for what should be included in 
political reform legislation, the actual drafting of the laws 
would be left to the government.  Consequently, a new 
elections law might not be ready for debate in parliament 
until 2006. 
 
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THE INDOMITABLE DR. MUASHER 
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6.  (C) Zeitoon praised the work of Deputy PM Muasher in 
overseeing the work of the Steering Committee and his ideas 
for achieving reform.  While Muasher does not officially 
"chair" the committee, he is reportedly active in keeping its 
work focused and reminding members of the King's expectations 
for their work.  Muasher's role in the royal decentralization 
committee, in contrast, was more that of an observer whose 
main task was to ensure that the two committees were not 
pursuing divergent agendas.  Zeitoon said that King Abdullah 
had asked Muasher to fly to Washington, D.C. last week after 
PM al-Fayez became ill to help present and explain Jordan's 
reform agenda, both on Capitol Hill and in meetings with NGOs 
and businesses.  (NOTE: Zeitoon hinted that Muasher could be 
moving on from the GOJ by the end of the year, while he 
himself will be assuming a new position next month in the 
royal court. END NOTE.) 
 
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COMMENT 
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7.  (C) The national agenda process is still in its early 
stages and the bulk of the committee's work remains to be 
done.  Committee member and women's activist Nadia Bushnaq 
told poloff March 21 that she was cautiously optimistic about 
the progress made so far, but was unsure of the final outcome 
-- noting that the key is implementing changes, not just 
coming up with recommendations.  Zeitoon acknowledged public 
skepticism about "yet another commission," but insists this 
project will be different.  The ultimate success of the 
national agenda will depend on a strong and sustained 
commitment by the palace, and by ensuing governments, during 
the coming years to carry out recommended reforms and to 
match identified priorities with commensurate funds. 
HENZEL