US embassy cable - 02AMMAN6581

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 006581 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR E STAFF - LISA COEN 
STATE FOR EB/CBA - MERMOUD AND NEA/PPD - BOURGEOIS 
STATE PASS USTR FOR NED SAUMS 
STATE PASS USPTO FOR JOELLEN URBAN 
CUSTOMS FOR FARAH NAIM AND CRAIG WALKER 
COMMERCE FOR 4520/ITA/MAC/ONE/COBERG 
TREASURY FOR PIPATANAGUL 
OPIC FOR JIM HANSLEY AND ABED TARBUSH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD, EINV, KPAO, JO, OPIC 
SUBJECT: JORDAN'S JOINT COMMISSION AGENDA 
 
REF: AMMAN 6517 
 
1.  (u)  Summary:  Jordan's government and private sector 
have developed an ambitious schedule of events in support of 
the December 11 U.S.-Jordan FTA Joint Commission meeting 
(detailed schedule below).  Their plan envisages three days 
of FTA-related meetings and press events to raise awareness 
of the FTA among a broader U.S. audience.  Jordanian 
Ambassador to the U.S. Karim Kawar will be a central 
organizing point for the Jordanians and is likely to contact 
addressees to begin organizing many of these events.  We will 
continue to support JC preparations as we count down to 
December 11.  End summary. 
 
2.  (u)  Following is an outline of the GOJ's and the 
Jordanian private sector's proposals for the Joint Commission 
and related events.  We have tried to highlight areas of 
Washington agency interest/assistance, and we will be happy 
to help coordinate these events as well.  Please note that, 
prior to the JC events, the private sector delegation will 
have been participating in a USAID-funded study tour 
targeting capacity-building for Jordanian trade associations. 
 Stops in the study tour prior to the JC include a meeting 
with the Economic Club of Detroit, at which Jordanian Trade 
Minister Salah al Bashir is slated to give an address. 
 
3.  (u)  Begin Washington Agenda: 
 
Wednesday, December 11 (OFFICIAL JC DATE AS PROPOSED BY MoIT) 
 
0900 - Digital video conference.  The technical details of 
the conference are being handled by the Jordan Investment 
Board (Lama Mahadeen, email: lama(at)jib.com.jo).  The DVC 
will link Amman with Washington and five regional Arab 
capitals.  The DVC concept is to start with introductory 
remarks by King Abdullah, followed by brief remarks by USTR 
Zoellick and Minister Bashir, followed by three pre-scripted 
questions from remote participants, which either Zoellick or 
Bashir will answer.  Total time for the event would be about 
30 minutes. FOLLOW-UP ACTION REQUIRED:  We need confirmation 
that a DVC facility will be reserved for that day/time, and 
we need to get the DVC technical team in Washington in 
contact with Mahadeen in Amman. 
 
0930-1230 - Joint Commission Senior-Level Meeting.  We have 
been promised a detailed agenda by the GOJ by the end of the 
week, which we will forward to Washington soonest.  We expect 
this meeting to end with a press event.  Bashir has suggested 
that the press event could include announcements by PhRMA and 
Albemarle about their activities in Jordan.  Albemarle has 
recently begun exporting bromine from its Dead Sea facility, 
and is looking for a public forum to announce the 
development, while PhRMA reps informed the Ambassador in 
October that several member companies are ready to announce 
new cooperative ventures with Jordanian partners.  In 
addition to this, we expect there will be some sort of joint 
statement issued by USTR and the Jordanian delegation 
following the JC talks.  FOLLOW-UP ACTION REQUIRED: 
Ambassador Kawar should be in contact soon with USTR staff to 
work out the press event.  We will forward the GOJ's agenda 
and official delegation list as soon as we receive them.  If 
there will be a joint statement, we should be prepared to 
share a draft with Bashir soonest. 
 
1230-1430 - Lunch co-hosted by JABA (Jordan's local Amcham) 
and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (tentative).  JABA is trying 
to schedule this lunch, but has received a lukewarm response 
from the Chamber due to the Chamber's sensitivity over labor 
and environmental provisions of the FTA and their impact on 
new FTA's.  FOLLOW-UP ACTION:  We suggest that State 
coordinate with the U.S. Chamber to secure agreement to hold 
the lunch.  A senior USG official (tbd) is likely to be asked 
by the U.S. Chamber to make remarks. 
 
1430-1730 - Joint Commission technical-level meetings.  The 
GOJ has indicated an interest in conducting working-level 
discussions on (at least) rules of origin and environmental 
issues as provided for in the FTA text and side letters. 
FOLLOW-UP ACTION REQUIRED:  We will forward the GOJ's 
delegation list and proposed agenda as soon as we receive it, 
and will coordinate meetings with GOJ counterparts. 
 
December 11 Afternoon (time tbd) - Globe Trade Event at 
Jordanian Embassy.  This is primarily a match-making event 
for the private sector, organized by the Jordanian Embassy. 
 
Thursday, December 12 
 
0900-1100 - DoC-hosted roundtable for Jordanian trade 
associations and U.S. counterparts.  We have forwarded a 
concept paper to DoC to begin thinking on organizing such an 
event, which would focus on FTA awareness-raising, 
association-level matchmaking, and promotion of the 
American-Jordanian Exhibition slated for March 2003.  The GOJ 
expressed hope Secretary Evans would have time to briefly 
address the roundtable alongside Minister Bashir.  There 
would also be a public statement following the event, 
optimally to announce the creation of a U.S. counterpart to 
the Jordanian FTA coordinating committee ("TIJARA"), which is 
comprised of interested Jordanian trade and professional 
associations.  FOLLOW-UP ACTION REQUIRED: Once we have 
received the Jordanian delegation list, we will work with DoC 
to identify appropriate U.S. association counterparts and 
encourage their participation. 
 
Lunchtime - Minister Bashir address to National Press Club 
(tentative) - Bashir has expressed interest in addressing the 
Club.  Ambassador Kawar should follow up from the Jordanian 
embassy to coordinate this event. 
 
Additional events:  Bashir is seeking meetings with OPIC, 
USDA, and Treasury, probably to discuss project finance, food 
aid, and bilateral tax treaties, respectively.  OPIC, USDA 
and Treasury should expect calls from Ambassador Kawar to 
arrange those meetings, likely on the 12th.  We have conveyed 
to Bashir the complexities of starting negotiations on a tax 
treaty, and expect him to name a legal expert to the 
delegation for that purpose. 
 
Friday, December 13 
 
Breakfast co-hosted by the World Trade Centers (WTC), the 
National U.S.-Arab Chambers of Commerce (NUSACC), and the 
National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC).  This event is being 
coordinated through the Amman World Trade Center and the 
Jordanian embassy in Washington.  USG officials will likely 
be invited. 
 
1000-1215 - QIZ event hosted by Dept of State (tentative). 
Per Ref A, a group of QIZ managers, investors, and GOJ 
officials, including Bashir, are interested in holding a QIZ 
event to jump-start investment and allay retailer concerns 
about political risk factors in Jordan.  The group hopes to 
secure the participation of U/S Larson in this event. 
FOLLOW-UP ACTION REQUIRED:  State to coordinate event with 
help from Embassy Amman. 
 
Afternoon - JABA-led "door knock" on Capitol Hill 
(tentative).  This will be coordinated by JABA and the 
Jordanian embassy in Washington.  We will also pass to State 
a list of Hill leaders the delegation would like to meet once 
we receive it.   Please note Bashir has expressed interest in 
attending the door knock. 
 
End agenda. 
 
4.  (u)  Press plan:  Embassy is preparing a press plan for 
the lead-up to the JC, JC-related events, and follow-up press 
coverage in Jordan.  FOLLOW-UP ACTION REQUIRED:  The JC is an 
excellent opportunity to highlight Jordan as a successful 
example of USG trade policy.  We recommend PA officers from 
interested Washington agencies coordinate with the Jordanian 
embassy press office to ensure adequate coverage of the JC. 
 
GNEHM