US embassy cable - 05AMMAN2382

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 002382 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PTER, IZ, JO 
SUBJECT: KING ABDULLAH ORDERS JORDANIAN ENVOY BACK TO 
BAGHDAD 
 
REF: AMMAN 2297 
 
Classified By: Charge Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (C)  King Abdullah on March 21 ordered the Jordanian 
Charge to Iraq (currently in Amman) back to Baghdad.  On 
March 22, the Jordanian Charge was making arrangements to 
travel to Baghdad, but said he plans to set up shop in a 
hotel given the poor security situation at the Jordanian 
embassy.  Reflecting public Iraqi comments out of Algiers, 
the Iraqi mission in Amman expressed appreciation for King 
Abdullah's gesture.  Nevertheless, the Iraqi ambassador 
returned to Baghdad on March 22 as ordered, although the 
mission expects him to return to Amman "in a few days." 
Despite the GOJ's effort to stem the dispute, defensive 
statements from various Jordanian quarters continued, 
suggesting that tensions have not fully dissipated.  End 
Summary. 
 
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KING ORDERS ENVOY BACK TO BAGHDAD 
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2.  (U)  Prime Minister Faisal al-Fayez announced on March 21 
after a meeting with Iraqi President Yawar in Algiers that 
King Abdullah had ordered the immediate return of Jordan's 
envoy to Iraq to Baghdad "as a gesture of good will from 
Jordan in order to ease tensions between the two countries." 
Describing his meeting with Yawar as "excellent," Fayez said 
that he was assured "that Iraq's decision to recall its 
ambassador from Amman was for consultations and should not be 
seen at all as severing ties."  Still sounding a defensive 
tone, however, he said he told Yawar that "terrorism has no 
nationality" and that "it was impossible that a Jordanian" 
could carry out an attack such as the suicide bombing that 
killed more than 100 Iraqis in Hilla.  Meanwhile, in Amman, 
GOJ spokesperson Asma Khader praised the King's decision and 
repeated the comment by FM Hani al-Mulki (also in Algiers for 
the Arab League summit) that the crisis was nothing more than 
a passing "summer cloud" that would not shake Iraqi-Jordanian 
relations. 
 
3.  (C)  FM Mulki told reporters on March 21 after meeting 
his Iraqi counterpart in Algiers that the two sides had 
worked out security measures for Jordanian embassy staff in 
Baghdad.  As of midday March 22, Jordanian Charge to Iraq 
Dimai Haddad remained in Amman, but was in the process of 
making travel arrangements to return to Baghdad, possibly as 
early as March 23.  He said he planned to lodge in a local 
hotel for at least for a month given the poor security 
situation at his embassy.  Under no circumstances would he 
return to the embassy compound given his security concerns, 
and he accused Iraqi security forces of participating in the 
recent disturbances there. 
 
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IRAQIS APPRECIATE THE GESTURE 
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4.  (C)  After learning on the evening of March 21 of King 
Abdullah's decision to instruct the Jordanian charge 
d'affaires to return to Baghdad, post passed this information 
to Iraqi Political Counselor in Amman, Abdul Khidhir 
al-Malki.  Malki subsequently received separate confirmation 
of the King's decision from the Jordanian Foreign and Royal 
Court Ministries.  Malki informed emboff later on March 21 
that he and Iraqi Ambassador to Jordan Attah Abdul Wahab (who 
remained in Amman) had notified the Iraqi Foreign Ministry of 
this development and requested new instructions on whether 
Ambassador Abdul Wahab should still return to Baghdad as 
ordered the day before (ref). 
 
5.  (C)  According to Malki, Ambassador Abdul Wahab suggested 
to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry that he be allowed to stay on 
in Amman, but was finally instructed by Iraqi Deputy Foreign 
Minister Sa'ad al-Hayani around midnight to return to Baghdad 
as originally scheduled.  Accordingly, Ambassador Abdul Wahab 
departed Amman for Baghdad at 0800 on March 22.  Despite the 
Ambassador's departure, Al-Malki expressed great appreciation 
for King Abdullah's decision to quickly return the Jordanian 
Charge to Baghdad, and stressed that bilateral relations 
between the Iraqi and Jordanian governments remain close.  In 
this context he speculated that Ambassador Abdul Wahab will 
return to Amman "within the next few days." 
 
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JORDANIANS STILL ON THE DEFENSIVE 
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6.  (C)  Despite the GOJ's effort to tamp down the situation, 
the Jordanians remain defensive over Iraqi rhetorical attacks 
on Jordan, and some see an instigating hand behind recent 
events (Ahmad Chalabi and Iran are most often cited as the 
culprits).  In comments to al-Arabiya satellite channel on 
March 21, Jordan's Foreign Minister openly blamed Iran for 
instigating the dispute, and Jordan's Senate issued a 
statement claiming that a "small and vindictive group 
instigated the crisis between Jordan and Iraq."  It called on 
the Iraqi people to carefully examine allegations that Jordan 
was involved in terror acts.  Lower House Speaker Abdul Hadi 
Majali went further, calling on all Jordanians "to stand 
united against challenges posed by unfair campaigns against 
the Kingdom."  He warned that "there was a mounting sense in 
the Arab world that Iraq was moving away from the Arab and 
Islamic nations, including Jordan," and urged Iraq to "return 
to the Arab camp."  Islamic Action Front leader Abdul Latif 
Arabiyat cautioned against "external schemes ..aimed at 
sowing sedition among the people," according to press. 
 
7.  (U)  Minimize considered. 
HENZEL