INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Jordanian Participation in Madrid Meetings

Published: Thu 16 Oct 2003 03:12 PM
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS AMMAN 006620
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
TREASURY FOR OASIA -- MMILLS/ADEMOPULOS AND IRAQ TASKFORCE
USDOC 4520/ITA/MAC/ONE/PTHANOS
USDOC FOR IRAQ TASKFORCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID BEXP JO IZ
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN PARTICIPATION IN MADRID MEETINGS
REF: SECSTATE 287995
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: A high-level Jordanian interagency
delegation to Madrid, led by Finance Minister Michel Marto,
will make a presentation highlighting Jordan's potential to
provide technical and training support for rebuilding Iraq's
institutions and to support other donors' efforts. While
planning for the donors meetings seems on track, the
Jordanians are confused about how to organize themselves for
the private sector conference. We will work with the Spanish
embassy to clear up misunderstandings over ministerial
participation, the number of Jordanian companies invited, and
who will pay for their travel, but would also appreciate
Washington guidance on these points. END SUMMARY.
---------------
Donors Meetings
---------------
2. (SBU) Ministry of Planning Secretary General Hala
Bsiso-Lattouf told ECON/C October 15 that Jordan will send an
eight-person delegation to the October 23-24 donors meetings.
Finance Minister Michel Marto will lead a team including
Bsiso-Lattouf, Jordan's Ambassador to Spain, Mohammed
Al-Mu'ajdeh of the Jordanian military's Crisis Management
Center, Arwa Salaita from the Ministry of Industry and Trade,
Ismail Zagal from the Ministry of Finance, Nabil Shukm of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and an as-yet-unidentified
representative of the Public Security Directorate.
3. (SBU) Bsiso-Lattouf said Jordan's presentation and
contribution to the conference will focus on Jordanian
technical and training support for Iraqi institutions, such
as training for police, aviation officials, bankers, and
health inspectors. In addition to ongoing programs Jordan
will stand ready to provide additional technical support in
other areas identified by Iraq. While Jordan, as an ODA
recipient, is not in a position to pledge cash, the
delegation will also highlight Jordan's readiness to support
other donors' efforts and to provide logistical and other
support to ensure easy access to Iraq. Jordan's presentation
will note the country's strong interest in Iraq's successful
transition to peace and prosperity, and its readiness to
cooperate fully with Iraqi institutions and the international
community.
-------------------------
Private Sector Conference
-------------------------
3. (SBU) Confusion about the private-sector development
conference (Reftel) in Madrid has meant that GOJ has not as
yet put together a delegation for that conference.
Bsiso-Lattouf said that when she contacted the Spanish
embassy to follow-up on Minister Rato's invitation, she was
told that the conference would be open to an undetermined
delegation of several businessmen, led by the Minister of
Planning, all of whose travel to Madrid would be paid for.
She was later told that five businessmen could attend, but
that the Minister's travel would not be paid for. We
conveyed our understanding based on reftel (which we had
previously conveyed to the Prime Minister and Planning
Minister Awadallah) that the conference is meant for private
sector leaders vice government ministers, whose primary role
would be to recruit and organize the delegation, and
encouraged her to act quickly to form a delegation.
Bsiso-Lattouf said she would consult Awadallah (who is
currently traveling with the King), and that the Ministry was
ready to form a business delegation even on short notice if
these questions could be resolved.
----------------------------
COMMENT AND GUIDANCE REQUEST
----------------------------
5. (SBU) Jordanian planning for the donors meetings seems on
track. We will continue to work with Bsiso-Lattouf and the
Spanish embassy to encourage appropriate participation in the
private sector meeting. We would appreciate any guidance on
the role of Minister Awadallah at the business conference, as
well as the availability of funding for private-sector
delegations to this portion of the conference.
GNEHM
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media