US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD4445

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004445 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, IZ 
SUBJECT: JAAFARI ON TRIP TO JORDAN AND ARAB LEAGUE 
ENGAGEMENT 
 
 
Classified By: Charge David Satterfield, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
 1. (C) PM Jaafari briefed Charge October 29 on his 
just-concluded visit to Jordan and reflected on the previous 
week's visit by Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa. 
Jaafari said he was "completely satisfied" with the visit to 
Amman.  King Abdullah, the Jordanian PM and other officials - 
he particularly singled out Zaid Rifai - had shown him great 
hospitality and had exceeded Jaafari's expectations regarding 
their attitude toward "the new Iraq."  In particular, Jaafari 
said that his hosts and the "average Jordanians" he had met 
during the visit had hailed what the PM said was "my 
unexpected popularity." 
 
2. (C) On substantive issues, Jaafari said that he had 
pressed for sending Jordan's Ambassador-designate to Baghdad, 
and the GOJ had agreed.  (Note: We armed Jaafari in advance 
with information to pass during his visit confirming that USG 
is able to provide suitable secure housing/office space 
within the IZ as of end November.  End Note.)  The issue of 
Jordanian/Iraqi debt and commercial claims also had been 
raised, with agreement that Iraqi Finance Minister Allawi 
would set up a technical team this coming week to engage with 
the GOJ.  Charge underscored importance of close coordination 
with US on the debt issue and briefly outlined our exchanges 
in Amman with Jordanian officials on this issue. 
 
3. (C) Jaafari also had discussed the activities of Saddam's 
two daughters, resident in Jordan.  He had received 
assurances that the daughters would not be permitted to 
engage in any/any political activity whatsoever.  While 
Jaafari had been prepared to discuss the status of Ahmed 
Chalabi, the issue had not been raised.  Jaafari told Charge 
that his position was that the Chalabi case should be handled 
as an individual legal matter and separated completely from 
political considerations.  He said he took no position on the 
merits of the legal case, which was a matter solely for 
appropriate judicial consideration.  Finally, Jaafari said he 
had pressed his hosts for more "balanced" treatment of Iraq 
in the Jordanian media and had received positive assurances. 
 
4. (C) On the Moussa visit, Jaafari said that he had been 
pleased with the general character of the visit but had 
cautioned Moussa strongly at the outset of his trip on the 
need to clarify that the Arab League fully accepts the 
reality of "the new Iraq" and is fully respectful of Iraqi 
sovereignty.  Jaafari said that there are many questions that 
need to be resolved before the Moussa-proposed "gathering" 
(the PM said he preferred not to characterize the proposed AL 
event as a "conference") takes place.  Issues that need to be 
resolved in advance include: who would attend (PM "red lines" 
were "no Baathists/no terrorists," although he then stated 
individuals like Salih Mutlaq should be kept out as well); 
what the agenda and follow up of the meeting should be; and 
which non-Iraqi parties - if any - should be present. 
Satterfield