US embassy cable - 02AMMAN3248

UNCLAS AMMAN 003248 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NP/ECS - KATHY CROUCH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KSTC, ETTC, JO, EXBS 
SUBJECT: JORDAN EXPRESSES INTEREST IN ECAP 
 
REF: AMMAN-NP FAX OF 12 JUNE 2002 
 
This is an action request; see para one. 
 
1.  (u)  On June 6, Post received a letter of thanks from 
Mohammed Obeidat, Head of the International Cooperation 
Section at Jordanian Customs, for USG support for Jordan's 
participation in the May 20-24 Barcelona Transshipment 
Conference (ref).  In the letter, Obeidat expressed interest 
in taking advantage of NP's ECAP program per discussions held 
on the margins of the Barcelona conference.  In particular, 
he welcomed an evaluation tour by appropriate USG officials 
to examine Jordan's border security needs.  Action request: 
Post believes ECAP funds could be well used in Jordan and 
would appreciate advice on how best to respond to the GOJ's 
request.  Text of letter below. 
 
begin text: 
 
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 
Ministry of Finance 
Customs Department 
 
Ref. No.: 25/93/ 
Date: 09/06/2002 
 
Mr. Thomas Goldberger 
Economic Counselor 
Embassy of the United States of America 
Amman, Jordan 
 
Dear Mr. Goldberger, 
 
Firstly, allow me to thank you on behalf of my colleagues who 
participated in the United States Department of State 
Transshipment Enforcement Conference which was held in 
Barcelona/Spain on May 20-24-2002, namely Messers Faisal A. 
Al-Serhan and Fadi B. Makhlouf for the excellent co-operation. 
 
Now that the conference has finished with great success, I 
would also like to pass on a word of thanks to your excellent 
team, namely to Mrs. Allyson Cornish and Mr. Gabi Afram who 
contributed greatly with their knowledge and efforts to the 
successful arrangement of this important event. 
 
Jordan is suffering from terrorists attacks.  It is prone to 
suffer from terrorism in the future.  It is clear that the 
role of Jordan and particularly of the Jordanian Customs in 
the field of nonproliferation is growing every day.  We 
address our wish to receive further and more in-depth 
knowledge on how the dual use of materials and 
nonproliferation function in practice.  A task which stays on 
the top of our agenda and for which we will be happy to 
benefit from your administration's knowledge and expertise 
which your colleagues kindly agreed to do so in the very near 
future.  Taking into account the increased co-operation 
between our customs department and other international 
customs administrations and organizations which will only be 
to the benefit of trade and economies in the region but also 
the worldwide. 
 
Finally, allow me to express our gratitude for your kind 
invitation and careful considerations which resulted in the 
intention of a delegation from your side to make an 
evaluation tour to our country to look at the weakness points 
which will fill up the gap left by virtue of circumstances 
and allow a speedy and up-to-date hi-tech. 
 
Looking forward to future co-operation with you and your 
Customs Services.  Hoping an active participation from our 
side in the coming conference in Warsaw in October this year. 
 
Sincerely yours, 
 
Mohammad F. Obeidat 
Head of International Co-operation Section 
 
end text 
Gnehm