US embassy cable - 05AMMAN7133

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 007133 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, IZ, JO, UN 
SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING: JORDAN 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 7081 
 
     B. STATE 163365 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for Reasons 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
1.  (C) In the absence of Foreign Minister Kasrawi, Charge 
and poloff delivered ref B demarche and corresponding 
non-paper on September 5 to Nabih Shuqom, Secretary General 
of the Foreign Ministry.  Shuqom said he would pass the 
information to FM Kasrawi upon his return to Amman that 
evening and gave the following substantive responses: 
 
2.  (C) Terrorism:  Jordan unequivocally denounces all forms 
of terrorism.  Its efforts to promote religious tolerance and 
to reject terrorist acts in the name of Islam are well known. 
 The GOJ hopes that a consensus can be reached soon on the UN 
Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (ref A). 
 
3.  (C) Magen David Adom (MDA):  While Jordan privately 
favors the convening of a diplomatic conference to adopt a 
new, neutral emblem for the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, 
it is unwilling to oppose publicly the strong consensus among 
OIC and Arab League states against the conference.  "We can't 
afford to be on the losing side of this issue," Shuqom 
stated. 
 
4.  (C) Iraq:  The GOJ's designated ambassador to Baghdad 
"would be on a plane tomorrow" if the necessary security 
arrangements were in place.  The Iraqi Transitional 
Government (ITG) and multi-national forces, however, have yet 
to agree to and furnish requested security measures, 
including a secure residence within a protected area for the 
ambassador.  Shuqom also complained that official GOJ 
inquiries regarding Jordanian detainees in Iraqi prisons were 
often left unanswered. 
 
5.  (C) Syria-Lebanon:  The GOJ has tried several times to 
reinforce the U.S. message on unacceptable Syrian behavior, 
but without any tangible results. 
 
6.  (C) UN High-Level Event:  Jordan, like other Arab League 
states, is focused on the upcoming event at the UN and hopes 
for a productive outcome.  Shuqom said that he expected 
little to come out of the Foreign Ministers' meeting in Cairo 
as most of the discussions would "simply shift to New York" a 
few days later. 
 
7.  (C) Reform:  The GOJ is a steadfast proponent for reform 
in the region.  Shuqom said Jordan would send a strong 
delegation to the Forum for the Future in Manama, and noted 
that he had met with prospective forum participants the 
previous day. 
HALE