US embassy cable - 05AMMAN6148

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006148 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, EAID, JO, KICC 
SUBJECT: JORDAN'S UPPER HOUSE APPROVES ARTICLE 98 
AGREEMENT; LOWER HOUSE TO RECONSIDER IN AUTUMN 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 05994 
     B. AMMAN 05918 
     C. AMMAN 05624 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for Reasons 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY:  The Jordanian Senate unanimously endorsed 
the U.S.-Jordan Article 98 agreement prior to the end of 
parliament's extraordinary summer session on July 31.  The 
agreement will be considered by the lower house, which 
previously struck it from its legislative agenda, when 
parliament reconvenes after Ramadan.  The lower house's 
shelving of a new anti-corruption law (a top GOJ priority) 
during the extraordinary session, combined with vocal (but 
unproven) charges of misuse of government development funds, 
demonstrate the challenges the GOJ faces in achieving its 
objectives in an obstructionist parliament.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C) The Jordanian Senate voted unanimously on July 31 to 
approve the Article 98 agreement between the U.S. and Jordan. 
 The vote follows the July 28 recommendation of the Senate 
legal committee (after lobbying by key cabinet ministers) in 
favor of ratification (ref A).  Foreign Minister Kasrawi told 
Charge July 31 that Senate President Zeid Rifai, acting under 
GOJ guidance, steered the agreement to a quick vote and 
helped defuse potential objections.  Shortly after the Senate 
action, the palace issued a royal decree that immediately 
ended parliament's extraordinary session, which had commenced 
July 14. 
 
3.  (C) The Article 98 agreement will head back to the 
Chamber of Deputies (which earlier struck the agreement from 
its agenda) when parliament reconvenes in the fall for its 
next regular session, most likely in November after Ramadan. 
Earlier hostility toward the agreement in the lower house 
(ref C) may already be softening as the GOJ works to educate 
MPs on the agreement in light of widespread claims that its 
affronts Jordan's "sovereignty" (ref A).  The 11-deputy 
Democratic Alliance bloc, for example, criticized the GOJ for 
"misleading the lower house" by failing to explain adequately 
the need for endorsing the agreement and the possible 
ramifications of rejecting it (i.e., the possibility that 
support in the U.S. for assistance to Jordan might be 
undermined). 
 
4.  (U) The final day of the extraordinary session in the 
lower house was marked by rancorous debate centering on funds 
spent on the GOJ's Socio-Economic Transformation Plan (SETP) 
between 2001 and 2004.  Numerous MPs charged that the money 
(which prior to this year was not included in government 
budgets presented to parliament) was "spent in a suspicious 
way" and had not resulted in any tangible changes to 
Jordanian living standards.  A majority of MPs present voted 
to form a committee representing all blocs in the Chamber of 
Deputies to examine SETP expenditures.  PM Badran responded 
that his government "welcomed" the investigation and would 
provide documents to clarify how SETP proceeds were spent. 
 
5.  (C)  COMMENT:  While the extraordinary session agenda 
covered 33 legislative items, senior officials all along 
planned on a two week session.  The King's single greatest 
priority was to see adoption of a new anti-corruption law 
(ref B).  With that bill stuck in the Chamber of Deputies' 
legal committee (amid claims it violated the constitution), 
there was little reason for the GOJ to see the session 
continue, especially in light of continued criticism of the 
government as reflected in the SETP debate.  END COMMENT. 
HALE