US embassy cable - 03AMMAN1650

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 AMMAN 001650 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR STATE NEA ATTN. LIZ CHENEY, 
NEA/PPD MACINNES, BOURGEOIS, 
NEA/RA KWALKER, GGRAPPO, HPIERCE, BKEARY, MSPIRNAK; 
NEA/ARN SZIADEH, 
NEA/PPR SFRANCESKI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EFIN, ECON, EAID, PREL, KDEM, SCUL, KPAO, XF, JO 
SUBJECT: MEPI: POST PLAN TO SUPPORT GROWTH OF GOOD 
GOVERNANCE AND CITIZEN AWARENESS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 15081 
 
1.  POST'S INTERAGENCY MEPI COMMITTEE, CONSISTING OF USAID, 
POL, ECON AND PA HAS DEVELOPED THE FOLLOWING STRATEGY OVER 
THE NEXT YEAR TO ENCOURAGE GOOD GOVERNANCE IN JORDAN.  OUR 
PLAN AIMS TO STRENGTHEN CITIZEN AWARENESS AND ACTIVISM 
THROUGH NGO'S AS WELL AS GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THE 
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND THE COURTS.  GIVEN THE POLITICAL 
REALITIES OF JORDAN, WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO 
COOPERATE CLOSELY WITH THE GOJ, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THAT 
DEMOCRATIC CHANGE CAN ONLY COME FROM AN ENLIGHTENED AND 
EMPOWERED JORDANIAN PEOPLE.  CONTINUED PROGRESS IN THE OTHER 
TWO MEPI PILLARS, ESPECIALLY ECONOMIC REFORM AND 
DEVELOPMENT, WILL ALSO HELP CREATE A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT 
FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE.  FOLLOWING IS OUR OVERALL PLAN, AND WE 
WILL REQUEST MEPI SUPPORT FOR SOME OF IT IN A "SCOPE OF WORK 
PROJECT FORMAT".   OTHER PROJECTS WILL BE FINANCED OUT OF 
THE PASA AGREEMENT RECENTLY SIGNED AT POST BETWEEN PUBLIC 
AFFAIRS AND USAID.  OUR ABILITY TO CARRY OUT THESE 
ACTIVITIES WILL, OF COURSE, DEPEND VERY MUCH ON POLITICAL 
AND SECURITY CONDITIONS IN JORDAN. 
 
A.  ELECTION SUPPORT: 
KING HAS DECLARED THAT ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD FOR LOWER 
HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT ON JUNE 17, WITH MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO 
FOLLOW IN JULY.  MISSION WILL ASSIST CANDIDATES, CAMPAIGN 
MANAGERS AND POLITICAL ACTIVISTS FROM A WIDE RANGE OF 
POLITICAL PARTIES BY OFFERING THE FOLLOWING SUPPORT. 
 
--ELECTION CAMPAIGN LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS FOR CANDIDATES 
AND CAMPAIGN MANAGERS, INCLUDING SPECIAL SESSIONS FOR THE 40- 
60 FEMALE CANDIDATES EXPECTED TO RUN AND THEIR CAMPAIGN 
MANAGERS (PART OF A PROJECT ALSO SUGGESTED BY PLANNING 
MINISTER AWADULLAH - SPRING 03); 
--WORKSHOPS FOR BROADCAST AND PRINT JOURNALISTS ON ELECTION 
COVERAGE (SPRING 03); 
--CREATION AND DISSEMINATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS 
INFORMING VOTERS ON ELECTION PROCEDURES IN COOPERATION WITH 
GOJ AND MEDIA; 
--SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL ELECTION 
MONITORS, IF THEY ARE APPOINTED (SPRING 03); 
--MISSION TO SUPPORT THROUGH LOCAL NGO (JORDAN NATIONAL 
FORUM FOR WOMEN) A PHONE BANK FOR ALL FEMALE CANDIDATES 
THROUGH WHICH THEY CAN CONTACT THE CONSTITUENTS (SPRING 03); 
--SPECIAL ORIENTATION VISITS TO U.S. UNDER INTERNATIONAL 
VISITOR AND OTHER PROGRAMS FOR NEWLY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES 
TO FAMILIARIZE THEM WITH U.S, LEGISLATIVE PRACTICES (SUMMER 
03); 
--ORIENTATION VISIT AND TWO-WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM IN THE 
U.S. FOR NEWLY ELECTED FEMALE CANDIDATES (FALL 03); 
--POSSIBLE CITIZENS' EXCHANGE PROGRAM AIMED AT DEVELOPING A 
CORE GROUP OF LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANTS (FALL 03); 
 
B.   JUDICIAL REFORM 
GOJ HAS MADE INCREASED CITIZEN CONFIDENCE IN THE JUDICIARY A 
TOP PRIORITY BOTH TO INSPIRE CONFIDENCE IN RULE OF LAW 
DOMESTICALLY AND TO FOSTER A FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR LOCAL 
AND FOREIGN TRADE AND INVESTMENT.  MISSION PLANS FOLLOWING 
SUPPORT. 
 
--RETURNED JUSTICE MINISTRY OFFICIALS TO DESIGN TRAINING FOR 
JUDICIAL PERSONNEL BASED ON THEIR U.S. EXPERIENCE PROVIDED 
THROUGH THE CITIZEN EXCHANGE PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE 
INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF DEVELOPING LEGAL SYSTEMS (SPRING 
03); 
--PILOT PROGRAMS IN CASE MANAGEMENT AND MEDIATION TO BE 
ESTABLISHED IN AQABA AND POSSIBLY OTHER JORDANIAN CITIES 
(FALL 03); 
--PROGRAM TO TRAIN JUDICIAL MEDIATORS TO BE ESTABLISHED IN 
YARMOUK UNIVERSITY (FALL 03); 
--JUDICIAL MEDIATION TO BE INTRODUCED AS PART OF THE CORE 
CURRICULUM TO LAW FACULTIES THROUGHOUT JORDAN (FALL 04); 
--ENGLISH AND INTERNET TRAINING FOR JUDICIAL PERSONNEL TO BE 
EXPANDED (ONGOING); 
 
C.    WOMEN'S RIGHTS 
POST WILL SUPPORT WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL LIFE, 
PARTICULARLY THE ELECTIONS (SEE ABOVE), AND WILL ALSO 
SUPPORT WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT THROUGH THE FOLLOWING 
ACTIVITIES. 
 
--HELP ESTABLISH THE FAMILY PROTECTION PROGRAM, SUGGESTED BY 
MINISTER OF PLANNING AWADULLAH, INCLUDING CENTERS WHICH CAN 
DEFEND WOMEN AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND RAISE AWARENESS 
AMONG THE CITIZENRY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS 
(SPRING 03); 
--ASSIST THE GENERAL FEDERATION OF JORDANIAN WOMEN IN 
CONDUCTING A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS FOR WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE 12 
GOVERNORATES FOCUSSING ON LEADERSHIP, MEDIA AND MANAGERIAL 
SKILLS AS WELL AS HUMAN RIGHTS AWARENESS, ALSO PROPOSED BY 
PLANNING MINISTER (SPRING THROUGH FALL 03); 
--CONDUCT LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT 
OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN PROSECUTING VIOLENT CRIMES AGAINST 
WOMEN (FALL-WINTER 03-04); 
--SPECIAL ESL AND COMPUTER TRAINING FOR WOMEN ACTIVISTS 
(SPRING 03 AND ONGOING); 
--CITIZENS' EXCHANGE AND TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN'S NGO'S 
(SPRING THRU FALL 03); 
--SUPPORT WOMEN'S AND GIRLS' RIGHTS AS A PRINCIPLE COMPONENT 
OF CIVIC EDUCATION AT THE SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY LEVEL AS 
PART OF MISSION'S CIVIC EDUCATION SUPPORT (SEE BELOW); 
--SUPPORT THE WOMEN'S MEDIA CENTER, WHICH TRAINS AND 
ADVOCATES FOR WOMEN JOURNALISTS, THROUGH TRAINING AND 
EXCHANGE PROGRAMS (SPRING THRU FALL 03); 
--SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S ASSOCIATIONS IN AREAS RELATED 
TO INCREASING WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR 
(ONGOING); 
--PROMOTE WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN THE SMALL, MEDIUM, AND 
MICRO ENTERPRISE SECTORS (ONGOING); 
--ENCOURAGE THE EXPANSION OF WOMEN IN INFORMATION 
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (SUMMER 03); 
--PROVIDE BUSINESS EDUCATION TO YOUNG WOMEN (ONGOING); 
--INFORM WOMEN OF FAMILY PLANNING METHODS, LEADING TO A 
HEALTHIER, MORE PRODUCTIVE POPULATION THROUGH REDUCED 
FERTILITY (ONGOING); 
--SUPPLY WOMEN WITH HIGH QUALITY HEALTHCARE SERVICES 
TARGETED TO UNDER-SERVED REGIONS (ONGOING); 
 
D.   FREE AND FAIR MEDIA 
MISSION IS PROVIDING TRAINING AIMED AT RAISING THE 
PROFESSIONAL LEVEL OF JORDANIAN JOURNALISTS AND ENCOURAGING 
THE PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA TO PLAY A STRONGER ROLE IN 
RAISING CITIZEN'S AWARENESS AND EMPOWERMENT.  WE WILL 
CONTINUE THIS EFFORT THROUGH THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES. 
 
--CONDUCT IN-SERVICE WORKSHOPS AND WEB TRAINING FOR 
BROADCAST AND PRINT JOURNALISTS (SPRING 03 THRU FALL 04); 
--SUPPORT THROUGH GRANTS FOR TRAINING AND EXCHANGES THE 
CENTER FOR THE DEFENSE OF JOURNALISTS, WHICH DEFENDS 
JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE BEEN IMPRISONED OR CHARGED WITH 
VIOLATIONS OF THE PRESS OR SECURITY LAWS (SPRING 03-FALL 
04); 
--SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BRANCH OF THE NEWLY 
PROPOSED MIDDLE EAST TV IN AMMAN, WHICH WOULD GENERATE NEWS 
AND CURRENT EVENTS PROGRAMS AND SERVE AS A MODEL FOR LOCAL 
BROADCAST PROFESSIONALS, PARTICULARLY JORDAN TV AND RADIO 
(SPRING 03); 
--STRENGTHEN THE INSTRUCTION OF JOURNALISM AT JORDANIAN 
UNIVERSITIES (FALL03-04); 
 
E.   TRANSPARENCY AND ANTI-CORRUPTION 
THE GOJ HAS PUBLICLY COMMITTED ITSELF TO THE NEED FOR 
TRANSPARENCY AND EQUITABLE CONTRACTING AND PROVISION OF 
SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC AS A MEANS OF ENSURING THE CITIZEN'S 
CONFIDENCE AND FOSTERING A GOOD BUSINESS CLIMATE FOR FOREIGN 
TRADE AND INVESTMENT.  IT IS IN THE PROCESS OF ACCEDING TO 
THE WTO'S GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH WILL 
REQUIRE REFORMS IN GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS THAT WILL 
REDUCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FRAUD AND ABUSE.  THE MINISTRY OF 
ADMINISTRATIVE DEVELOPMENT PARTICIPATED DURING SUMMER 02 IN 
MISSION WORKSHOPS ON TRANSPARENCY AND ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT 
AND WE PLAN TO FOLLOW UP THROUGH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS. 
 
--IMPLEMENT E-GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES FOR THE GOJ, INCLUDING A 
FULL BUSINESS PROCESS RE-ENGINEERING (ONGOING); 
--TRANSFORM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF AQABA INTO A 
STREAMLINED, EFFICIENT, AND TRANSPARENT REGIONAL AUTHORITY 
(ONGOING); 
--MODERNIZE THE NATIONAL AND AQABA CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES 
THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING (ONGOING); 
--INCREASE THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE COMMERCIAL LEGAL 
FRAMEWORK AND INSTITUTIONS THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND 
TRAINING OF LEGAL PERSONNEL (FALL 03); 
--PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY WITHIN SIX GOJ AGENCIES AND 
MINISTRIES THROUGH A "CENTERS OF EXCELLENCY" PROGRAM THAT 
UTILIZES INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES IN PROVIDING PUBLIC 
SERVICES; 
--TRAIN OVER 20 BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS IN PUBLIC SECTOR 
ADVOCACY (ONGOING); 
--SUPPORT THE GOJ PLAN TO ACCEDE TO THE WTO'S GOVERNMENT 
PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT, OPENING THE GOJ PROCUREMENTS TO 
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION (ONGOING); 
 --SIMPLIFY INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS REGISTRATION PROCESSES 
AT THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVELS (ONGOING); 
--SUPPORT PRIVATIZATION OF STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES 
(ONGOING); 
--CONDUCT FOLLOW-ON WORKSHOPS FOR GOJ OFFICIALS, NGO'S AND 
JUDICIAL PERSONNEL ON ANTI-CORRUPTION AND TRANSPARENCY 
PRACTICES (SUMMER 03); 
--SUPPORT THE TRAINING OF JOURNALISTS IN INVESTIGATIVE 
REPORTING (SUMMER 03); 
--SUPPORT CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAINING FOR NGO'S DEDICATED 
TO MONITORING GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND CONTRACTING WITH 
THE PRIVATE SECTOR (FALL 03-04); 
--THROUGH THE FULBRIGHT AND OTHER ACADEMIC PROGRAMS SUPPORT 
JORDANIAN LAW AND POLITICAL SCIENCE INSTRUCTION AT THE 
UNIVERSITY TO INCLUDE A STRONG ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY 
COMPONENT (FALL 03-04); 
 
F.   CIVIC EDUCATION 
BOTH THE EDUCATION MINISTRY AND JORDANIAN NGO'S HAVE SHOWN A 
STRONG MOTIVATION TO REFORM EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES TO 
ENCOURAGE TOLERANCE, RESPONSIBILITY, CIVIC CONSCIOUSNESS AND 
INDEPENDENT THINKING AMONG YOUTH.   WE WILL SUPPORT THEM 
THROUGH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS. 
--THROUGH SPEAKERS, ACADEMIC SPECIALISTS AND WORKSHOPS, 
STRENGTHEN THE NEWLY FORMED, PAN-ARAB NGO "CIVITAS," WHOSE 
JORDANIAN MEMBER IS TRANSLATING A FOLLOW-ON TO THE "PROJECT 
CITIZEN" CIVED TEXTBOOK SERIES FOR USE IN JORDANIAN SCHOOLS 
(FALL 03-04); 
--SUPPORT MINISTRY OF EDUCATION'S PILOT 21ST CENTURY 
WORKPLACE EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGH 
SEMINARS, EXCHANGES AND TRAINING BY VISITING U.S. EXPERTS 
WHICH INCLUDE A STRONG CIVED COMPONENT (FALL 03-04); 
--EXPAND THE "DIALOGUE OF CULTURES" BETWEEN JORDANIAN, U.S. 
AND OTHER STUDENTS THROUGH THE IEARN, GLOBE AND OTHER WEB- 
BASED EXCHANGE PROGRAMS (ONGOING); 
--CONDUCT YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAMS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND 
UNIVERSITY LEVEL, AIMED AT EXPOSING JORDANIAN STUDENTS TO 
U.S. BEST PRACTICES IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT, VOLUNTARISM AND 
YOUTH ACTIVITIES (SUMMER 03); 
--SUPPORT TEACHER EXCHANGES AND TRAINING IN THE U.S. THROUGH 
CITIZEN EXCHANGE PROGRAMS WHICH INCLUDE A STRONG CIVED 
COMPONENT (SUMMER-FALL 03-04); 
--ENCOURAGE THE STRENGTHENING OF PARENT-TEACHER PROGRAMS 
THROUGH SPEAKERS AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMS (FALL 03-04); 
--SUPPORT JTV'S NEW SESAME STREET SERIES (INTENDED FOR 
CHILDREN AND ADULTS) AND SIMILAR PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE 
CIVIC AWARENESS (ONGOING); 
--ENSURE THAT ESL ASSISTANCE TO THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY 
SCHOOL SYSTEM INCLUDES A STRONG CIVIC EDUCATION COMPONENT IN 
THE CONTENT-BASED ESL MATERIALS, CURRICULA AND TEACHING 
METHODOLOGY (ONGOING); 
--INCLUDE A STRONG CIVIC EDUCATION COMPONENT IN THE SUMMER 
TRAINING COURSE AT THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE CENTER FOR 250 
SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS. (SUMMER 03)