US embassy cable - 05AMMAN8022

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 008022 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PTER, PBTS, IZ, JO 
SUBJECT: JORDAN AND IRAQ INCREASE SECURITY COOPERATION 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 7273 
 
     B. HACC-JORDAN SITREP 1 OCTOBER 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (SBU) Iraqi Interior Minister Bayan Jabr visited Jordan 
September 30 - October 1 and announced the completion of an 
Iraq-Jordan MOU on security cooperation.  Jabr, who in the 
past has publicly criticized the training of Iraqi security 
forces outside Iraq, also visited the U.S.-funded Jordanian 
International Police Training Center (JIPTC) outside Amman, 
and reportedly came away with a more positive view of the 
program (he seemed pleased when Charge saw him at the 
center).  Jabr also met with King Abdullah.  Jabr,s visit 
came on the heels of the visit to Baghdad by Jordanian PM 
Badran and three other ministers September 10 (ref A). 
 
2. (C) In reaction to an earlier statement attributed by 
international media to Saudi FM Saud Al-Faisal, Jabr told the 
press "Iraqis would not accept a Bedouin on a camel teaching 
us about human rights and democracy."  Senior GoJ officials 
later mentioned to Charge that it was an embarrassment to 
Jordan that this outburst occurred while Jabr was in Amman. 
 
3. (SBU) Jabr told local media October 1, "We want to 
establish the best of ties to protect our joint borders and 
combat terrorism."  Jordan's Interior Minister Awni Yarfas 
was quoted by Reuters as saying "we have a memorandum of 
understanding to boost cooperation in the security field, 
whether in fighting terrorism, tightening border controls in 
both directions and prevention of infiltration." Mukhaimer 
Abu Jamous, Secretary General at the Jordanian Ministry of 
Interior, told Poloff October 4 that Jabr presented drafts of 
the security MOU to Jordan, Syria, Turkey and Egypt during 
the May Interior Ministers, meeting in Istanbul.  Jordan is 
the first to sign the security MOU with Iraq.  The MOU 
establishes two bi-national committees staffed with liaison 
officers: one for security issues, and another for 
implementation. 
 
Border Crossing Problems 
------------------------ 
 
4. (C) The increased Jordanian-Iraqi cooperation that this 
MOU aims to foster is particularly needed at the Jordan-Iraq 
border.  EmbOffs and U.S. military liaison officers have 
observed persistent communication problems between Jordanian 
and Iraqi officials at the Karama-Trebil crossing.  Abu 
Jamous told Poloff that "without USG support on the border 
the Iraqis would have little to no control."  We understand 
PM Badran raised this issue during his visit in Baghdad, as 
well as the GOJ,s belief that altered documents and license 
plates are becoming more common among Iraqis seeking entry 
into Jordan (ref B).  Jabr,s delegation in Amman was briefed 
on new security measures the Jordanians are taking at the 
border to prevent infiltration by foreign militants, 
including x-ray screening of selected personal vehicles, and 
improved lighting. 
HALE