US embassy cable - 05AMMAN4759

UNCLAS AMMAN 004759 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE PASS TO USTR - MATT RHODE 
DHS/CBP FOR ALLISON LEVY 
STATE FOR NEA/PI, NEA/ELA, EB/TPP/MTA - ANDREW DILWORTH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD, PREL, JO, CTM 
SUBJECT: WCO FRAMEWORK OF STANDARDS TO SECURE AND 
FACILITATE GLOBAL TRADE - JORDAN 
 
REF: A. STATE 94927 
 
     B. LEVY-DILWORTH EMAIL (06/06/05) 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  FOR USG USE ONLY.  NOT FOR 
DISSEMINATION ON THE INTERNET. 
 
1.  (SBU)  ECON/C June 14 delivered Ref A demarche to 
Jordan's new Customs Director General Alaa A. Batayneh, 
noting Jordan's strong support for the USG position in prior 
World Customs Organization (WCO) meetings, including at the 
Policy Commission meeting chaired by Jordan in Amman last 
December.  Batayneh indicated Jordan's continued strong 
support for the Framework.  He noted that he would head the 
Jordanian delegation at the WCO Council May 23-25, departing 
for Brussels on June 19.  Regarding a possible letter of 
intent on implementing the WCO Framework (Ref B), Batayneh 
viewed the matter very favorably and promised to review the 
suggested draft language, noting however that Jordan would 
need to develop its capacity to fulfill the Framework's 
goals, a point he might raise in such a letter. 
 
2.  (SBU)  BIO NOTE:  The cabinet confirmed Batayneh as 
Customs Director General on May 31.  He had been Secretary 
General at the Ministry of Transport since 2000.  Batayneh 
studied at George Washington University (GWU), where he 
received a bachelor of science degree in electrical 
engineering;  he received an MSc. from GWU in 1993.  Batayneh 
is well and favorably known to the Embassy.  As Transport 
SecGen, he gave strong support to Jordan's transit trade with 
Iraq.  He also made significant contributions to Jordan's 
transportation infrastructure development.  He played a major 
role in bringing to an end a truck association's virtual 
monopoly via a trucking queue system at Aqaba port;  as of 
this September, shippers at Aqaba may choose trucking 
companies based on their record, not based on which truck is 
next in line.  Batayneh has indicated to us a keen desire to 
continue to develop the GOJ Customs Department as an 
"adaptive, active, and dynamic" organization;  it is already 
a leader among customs departments in the Middle East and 
North Africa region.  He is married to Princess Rahma, 
daughter of Prince Hassan (the late King Hussein's youngest 
brother).  END BIO NOTE. 
HALE