US embassy cable - 05AMMAN6538

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006538 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2015 
TAGS: PARM, PGOV, PREL, KNNP, IZ, JO 
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN FM ON CHALABI SUIT, PROLIFERATION 
SECURITY, JUDICIAL COOPERATION AND UNSC REFORM 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 6447 
     B. AMMAN 6160 
     C. AMMAN 6118 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for Reasons 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
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CHALABI CASE 
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1.  (C) Charge met with Foreign Minister Farouk Kasrawi on 
August 11.  After discussing the upcoming Israeli 
disengagement from Gaza (ref A), Charge informed Kasrawi that 
the USG had carefully reviewed Jordan's request for a 
Statement of Interest in a U.S. court case against the GOJ 
brought by Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Chalabi (ref C), 
but had decided not to issue such a statement at this time 
given the strong possibility that the case would be dismissed 
under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.  Kasrawi, who had 
been joined by Foreign Ministry Legal Adviser Bisher 
Khasawneh, accepted this position.  However, if the federal 
district court allows the case to proceed, Jordan may well 
again seek a Statement of Interest. 
 
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PSI 
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2.  (C) Charge also inquired about Jordanian progress toward 
joining the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). 
Khasawneh emphasized that support for the PSI at the 
political level was firmly in place, and that Jordan was 
fully committed to implementation of UN Security Council 
Resolution 1540.  He continued, however, that the Foreign 
Ministry was still waiting for "technical responses" from 
other GOJ elements (including the Minister of Interior and 
the General Intelligence Directorate) as the PSI cut across 
several different areas of responsibility.  Kasrawi agreed 
that it would be best to conclude Jordanian participation in 
the PSI before King Abdullah's planned visit to the U.S. in 
September.  (Comment: Post is following up with the GID.  End 
Comment.) 
 
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JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE 
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3.  (C) Kasrawi told Charge that he had met Central Bank 
Governor Touqan the previous day (August 10) to discuss 
cooperation with the U.S. on suspected terrorist finance 
cases.  Kasrawi assured Charge that the GOJ and Central Bank 
take this matter very seriously and said they would attempt 
to provide all cooperation legally possible.  He added that 
requests for assistance would be aided by as many "details" 
(such as full names) as possible. 
 
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UNSC REFORM 
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4.  (C) Turning to UN Security Council reform, Kasrawi said 
he understood that the African group had backtracked on 
movement toward supporting the G4 proposal.  He hoped this 
would mean the G4 would be unable to muster a two-thirds 
majority and would not press for a premature vote, thereby 
relieving Jordan from competing pressures. 
HALE