US embassy cable - 05AMMAN3394

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003394 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2010 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KPAO, LE, SY, JO 
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON UNSCR 1559: JORDAN 
 
REF: STATE 78006 
 
Classified By: Charge David Hale, Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D) 
 
1.  (C) Charge met with Foreign Minister Farouk Qasrawi on 
April 28 to deliver the demarche on the need to sustain 
pressure on Syria to comply fully with UNSCR 1559.  Charge 
pointed to Jordan's strong and consistent support for the 
resolution; more needed to be done to ensure its 
implementation.  Qasrawi, whose AUB education gives him a 
special interest in and attachment to the Lebanese, agreed 
with the thrust of the message, in particular the need to 
support free, fair, timely elections.  Charge will reinforce 
the message with Royal Court Minister Muasher upon his return 
from Singapore April 29, and with the King at the earliest 
opportunity. 
 
2.  (C) Comment: Qasrawi was chosen in part because he is the 
reverse image of his predecessor, Hani al-Mulki.  While we 
will not see Qasrawi make the spectacular stumbles that 
marked Mulki's tenure, he will also be less likely to draw 
attention to himself with potentially controversial 
statements about Syria.  The unpopularity here of Mulki's 
demands of Syria to implement 1559 from a podium in 
Jerusalem, seen as gratuitous because of the venue, will 
reinforce Qasrawi's caution. However, we can count on palace 
intervention to ensure that the King's strong support for our 
strategy toward Lebanon and Syria is demonstrated, publicly 
and privately. 
HALE