US embassy cable - 05AMMAN3022

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003022 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2015 
TAGS: PREL, IZ, JO 
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN FM TELLS AMB JONES HE WILL VISIT IRAQ 
 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) See action request para 5. 
 
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Summary 
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2. (C) Newly appointed Jordanian Foreign Minister Farouq 
Qasrawi told Senior Advisor and Coordinator for Iraq Policy 
Richard Jones April 12 that he will work to improve relations 
with Iraq and is ready to visit Baghdad to congratulate the 
new Iraqi government. Qasrawi supports the idea of a U.S.-EU 
sponsored conference to be held in June in Brussels for the 
Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG) to present its vision of 
a new Iraq. Qasrawi will continue to engage Iraqi Sunnis to 
participate in the political process. End Summary. 
 
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Ready to go to Iraq 
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3. (C) During an April 12 meeting, FM Qasrawi complemented 
the comprehensive agenda for Iraq as presented by Ambassador 
Jones and said that he would work to improve Jordan-Iraq 
relations. Qasrawi expressed a strong desire to expand 
Jordanian dialogue with Iraq and claimed he was ready to go 
to Baghdad to congratulate the new government once it was 
formed. Qasrawi listed the many areas of cooperation between 
the two countries, including police and military training. 
 
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Support for U.S.-EU Conference 
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4. (C) Qasrawi expressed his support for a U.S.-EU sponsored 
conference in Brussels where the ITG would present its vision 
of a new Iraq to the international community. He felt it was 
important that the Iraqis form a government as soon as 
possible and draft a constitution according to the current 
timetable. Ambassador Nabih Shuqom - attending the meeting as 
Chief of the American and European Desk at the Foreign 
Ministry - half jokingly interjected that perhaps it would be 
better if the constitution were not ratified. Shuqom noted 
that, under the TAL, new elections could then be held in 
which the Sunni Arabs would, he hoped, participate. Jones 
quickly emphasized that the time delay created by any type of 
postponement would likely be filled with more violence. 
Qasrawi agreed with Jones and reiterated his support for 
producing a constitution by the current deadline. He promised 
that Jordan would continue to engage with Iraqi Sunni Arabs 
to encourage them to participate in the political process, 
particularly drafting the constitution. 
 
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Comment and Action Request 
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5. (C) On only his third day as Foreign Minister, Qasrawi 
showed his willingness to accommodate by leaving his first 
cabinet meeting early to meet with Ambassador Jones' 
delegation. Unlike previous foreign ministers, Qasrawi 
surrounded himself with staff during the meeting, though this 
may reflect his lack of time to come fully up to speed on 
Iraq given his recent appointment. Jones met separately with 
Royal Court Minister Marwan Muasher, who also reiterated 
Jordan's support for efforts to encourage responsible Sunni 
figures to enter the political process. He also expressed 
support for the U.S.-EU conference. Action Request: Jordan 
has been a proposed venue for a May or June Iraq donor 
conference. Depending on timing of the Brussels meeting, we 
may need to suggest a  brief delay in the Jordanians' plans. 
Please advise. 
 
6. (U) This message was cleared by Ambassador Jones. 
 
7. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
HALE