This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
291335Z Apr 04
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 AMMAN 003306
SIPDIS
EB/IFD FOR DEMARCELLUS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN JO IZ
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN INFORMATION ON HOST GOVERNMENT
RECONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ
REF: SECSTATE 84935
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In response to a reiterated request for
information on Jordan's contribution to the reconstruction of
Iraq, the Jordanian Ministry of Planning provided to the
Embassy a report detailing Jordan's Iraq-related activities.
The report highlights several areas in which the GOJ has
offered in-kind assistance to the CPA and government of Iraq;
for a variety of reasons, most of these offers have not been
followed up by CPA/GOI. Significant exceptions to this rule
include Jordan's "at-cost" provision of programs training
Iraqi police and border security personnel, Iraqi air traffic
controllers and other civil aviation-related personnel, and
employees of the the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity. The
report also mentions improvements Jordan has made to its own
infrastructure which benefit Iraq, as well as Jordan's
extension of exemptions, previously granted to UN agencies
and contractors under Oil-for-Food, to the agencies and
contractors pursuing relief and reconstruction acivities in
Iraq since the conclusion of the Oil-for-Food program. The
report does not mention substantial contributions by the
Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) in the training of the New Iraqi
Army, the operation of a field hospital in Fallujah, and
border cooperation with the CPA and coalition forces. END
SUMMARY.
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NIA Training
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2. In cooperation with coalition forces, the JAF is providing
staff and facilities for the training of the officer corps of
the New Iraqi Army. To date, NIA officer candidates who have
completed or are undergoing training in Jordan include
approximately 700 company-grade officers, 140 staff officers,
20 brigade and division commanders, 50 female officers, and
340 aviators.
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Fallujah Field Hospital
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3. Established by the JAF Royal Medical Services (RMS) at the
end of April 2003 and staffed by RMS personnel since that
time, the 30-bed Fallujah Field Hospital has handled 282,533
cases and performed 1,005 surgeries. The RMS has also
medevaced several problematic cases to Amman and performed
operations on them there, at the expense of royal charities.
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GOJ Non-military Assistance
---------------------------
4. The Ministry of Planning forwarded the following report
to the Embassy on April 27, 2004, outlining Jordanian
reconstruction assistance to Iraq since the end of the war
there.
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Begin text:
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The Government of Jordan is deeply committed to continue its
leading efforts in providing humanitarian and reconstruction
assistance to the Iraqi people and to utilize its territory
as a transit point through which humanitarian assistance is
channelled to Iraq from different countries and international
organizations. The Government of Jordan has launched the
Jordanian Initiative to provide emergency humanitarian aid
and facilitate its swift delivery into Iraq through Jordan.
The Government also coordinated with international agencies
and NGOs to channel humanitarian aid directly to Iraq or
through the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization and the
Crisis Management Center. Jordan's efforts at ensuring a safe
humanitarian corridor and smooth flow of goods have
registered a new world record in the delivery of urgently
needed food supplies achieving a rate of 12,9000 tons per
day.
Due to the geographic proximity and more importantly to the
deep economic and social ties that Jordan has built over the
last decade with Iraq, Jordan maintains a unique position
that allows it to act as an enabler and facilitator to all
international initiatives that address the reconstruction and
development challenges.
The Government of Jordan stresses the need to work
expeditiously towards the establishment of a full-fledged,
legitimate and representative Iraqi government as a
cornerstone of the process of rebuilding Iraq as the
Kingdom,s efforts are currently focused on assisting the
Iraqis to reconstruct their institutions.
In this regard, the Government of Jordan sought to address
the immediate and medium term priority reconstruction needs
of Iraqi sectors in a manner that will ensure that the
assistance offered will be tailored according to the needs
and requirements of Iraqi ministries and institutions which
according to the United Nations/World Bank Joint Iraq Needs
Assessment report published October 2003, include
strengthening institutions of sovereign, transparent, and
good government, resorting critical human services, and
supporting an economic and social transition. In line with
UN Security Council Resolutions 1483 and 1151, and the United
Nation,s appeal for assistance, Jordan has repeatedly
expressed its readiness to assist in the reconstruction of
Iraq to ensure the presence of the necessary conditions for
attaining sustainable development, as well as to advance the
current efforts aimed at restoring and establishing strong
national and local institutions for a representative
government.
Furthermore, the Government of Jordan made substantial
investments to create a supportive infrastructure that will
ensure the smooth flow of goods and services into Iraq to
support both humanitarian efforts and private sector
development requirements. As a result, Jordan has incurred
to-date, approximately US$20 million, in addition to an
estimated total of US$ 80 million required to cover
additional necessary infrastructure improvements.
In December 2003, the GOJ approved the request presented by
the World Bank for the establishment of an Interim Office for
its operations concerning Iraq and extended to the World
Bank,s staff privileges, immunities, exemptions and
facilities accorded to resident representatives of other
international organizations in Jordan, and their spouses and
dependents. Moreover, the International Finance Corporation
is currently in the process of establishing an office in
Amman and the IMF is considering the establishment of a
similar office in Jordan.
On the other hand, and in response to the formal requests for
assistance in restructuring and rehabilitation of priority
areas, vigorous consultations were conducted between the
various Jordanian Ministries and institutions and the Iraqi
Interim Government and the Coalition Provisional Authority
(CPA). Moreover, several bilateral initiatives were launched
between the Government of Jordan and the Iraqi Interim
Government/CPA covering 18 priority sectors. These include:
Labor, Agriculture, Justice, Investment Climate and Trade,
Financial Markets/Privatization, Census, Police and Border
Training, Education, Transport, Banking, Health,
Telecommunications, Water and Sanitation, Energy, Housing and
Land Management, Urban Management, Culture, and finally
Tourism. The projects fall within the areas of regulatory
and process benchmarking of Jordanian institutions, training
contributions both inside and outside of Iraq, as well as
direct assistance and support for Iraqi ministries. The
objectives of these projects are to encourage the formation
of democratic market based institutions in Iraq, and
improving the security, health, and economic well being of
the Iraqi people.
Achievements attained to date can be summarized as follows:
Labor
The Iraqi Interim Government and the Coalition Provisional
Authority (CPA) presented the Government of Jordan with an
assessment of the immediate needs of the Iraqi labor sector
and a request for assistance and training in the restoration
of democratic trade unions and creation of labor/management
relations system. The Jordanian Ministry of Labor expressed
it readiness to assist in the rehabilitation of this vital
sector through the transfer of expertise and knowledge in the
following areas:
- Rehabilitation of the Social Welfare System.
- Provision of Vocational Training.
- Working Environment Safety Rules and Regulations.
- Rehabilitation of Labor Unions.
- Work Inspection and Control Procedures and Regulations.
Energy
As part of Jordan,s efforts aimed at assisting the Iraqi
people to reconstruct their electricity networks, which have
been severely damaged as a result of the war as well as
training Iraqi experts, a Memorandum of Understanding was
signed between Jordan,s Ministry of Energy and Mineral
Resources and its Iraqi counterpart under which a liaison
office to handle electricity cooperation between Iraq and
Jordan was established. The office is located in Jordan,s
National Electric Power Company (NEPC) and is directly linked
to Iraq's electricity ministry. It will provide local and
foreign investors with information on the present and future
needs of Iraq's electricity sector, in addition to projects
under implementation. The office will also handle all tender
announcements of relevant Iraqi projects in local newspapers
and on the website of the NEPC.
Moreover, in cooperation with specialized agencies in Jordan,
the office will provide the Iraqi side with training,
technical, financial and administrative assistance, noting
that Iraq's daily electricity needs are estimated at 18,000
megawatts but only 5,000 megawatts are currently provided.
Agriculture
Jordan,s assistance was requested in the following:
- Advice on sanitary/phytosanitary standards and
long-term structuring and organization of Iraq,s Ministry of
Agriculture.
- Experience sharing and knowledge transfer on water
control improvement and monitoring specifically the exiting
water distribution systems in the Jordan Valley.
- Experience sharing and knowledge transfer on cropping
of agricultural products.
- Experience sharing and knowledge transfer on soil
analysis systems carried out in Jordan before fertilizer
application.
Moreover, the Government of Jordan was presented with a
request for a high level technical meeting to re-establish
dialogue between the two ministries and identify potential
areas of cooperation.
Accordingly, a meeting was held on 22 September 2003 between
representatives from the Jordanian and Iraqi Ministries of
Agriculture to identify the requirements of the Agricultural
sector in Iraq. An initial agreement was reached to provide
assistance to the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture through:
- Experts to assist in the building of internal capacity
within the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture
- Sharing Jordan,s expertise and knowledge in combating
desertification and desert rehabilitation.
- Sharing Jordan,s expertise and knowledge in water
control improvement, monitoring, and water distribution.
- Assistance in formulating a marketing strategy for
Iraqi agricultural products.
The need for further coordination and discussions to explore
areas of assistance and exchange of expertise was stressed
during the meeting as a prerequisite for the formulation of a
clear work plan to assist the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture
in its capacity building and rehabilitation efforts.
Justice
The Jordanian Ministry of Justice will present its expertise
and knowledge in institutional and capacity building through
training courses for judges and district attorneys at the
Jordanian Judicial Institute.
Trade
The main priority areas identified include assistance and
advice on development and enforcement of health, safety and
quality standards for imported goods, and transition to a
market-based public distribution system (PDS). The Government
of Jordan is currently coordinating between the relevant
Jordanian institutions to arrange for technical level
meetings that will address these priority areas and establish
means of cooperation and assistance. Moreover, and in light
of the termination of the oil-for- program in November 2003,
Jordan is currently in the process of instituting a mechanism
and process to secure the smooth and safe flow of goods in
and out of Iraq.
Financial Markets/Privatization
The CPA requested Jordan,s assistance in the capacity
building/rehabilitation of this sector through experience
sharing of Jordan,s privatization programs and initiatives.
The Ministry of Planning provided the following documents in
order to acquaint the Iraqi side with Jordan,s
accomplishments in this regard:
- A report on Jordan,s privatization program.
- Jordan,s National Privatization Strategy.
- Administrative Structure of the Executive Privatization
Commission.
- Financial System of the Executive Privatization
Commission.
- Privatization Proceeds Fund.
- Privatization Law No. 25 (2000)
- Report on Jordan,s experience in deepening its capital
market.
Census
Series of meetings of international experts were held at the
Jordanian Department of Statistics during the period 26-30
July 2003, which included representatives from the U.S.
Census Bureau, National Statistics/United Kingdom, the United
Nations, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS),
and the Statistical Center of Iraq (SCI). The meeting
focused on experience sharing on modalities of conducting a
national census and identifying and addressing the current
requirements of the SCI. An agreement was reached to focus
on rehabilitating the SCI through capacity building
initiatives. As such, a training course for a team comprised
of four Iraqi statisticians was conducted at the Jordanian
Department of Statistics in the area of Living Costs Data
Collection and Geographical Information Systems.
Police and Border Training
In line with His Majesty King Abdullah II directives to
provide necessary assistance to the Iraqis, including the
rehabilitation of their security forces, the Government of
Jordan endorsed on 14 October 2003 the agreement with the CPA
to start a two-year training course for 32,000 members of the
Iraqi police force at the country's various police academies.
The courses started in December 2003, with each course
lasting 8-weeks offering training to 1,500 Iraqis at a time,
over a period of 2 years.
Education
With regards to the rehabilitation of the Iraqi Ministry of
Education, the CPA sought Jordan,s assistance in conducting
a thorough review of the examination system. Education
specialists were requested to assist the Iraqi Ministry of
Education in the assessment, review, improvement, and
implementation of the current examination system so as to
align it with the new curriculum and textbooks. The request
is currently being processed by the Jordanian Ministry of
Education in order to formulate future assistance.
Transport
Jordan was presented with a request to assist in the
rebuilding of Iraq,s civil aviation infrastructure, and
restarting its civil aviation system and commercial aviation
operations, through the following areas:
- A comprehensive practical course of instruction for air
traffic controllers, and civil aviation administrators at the
Queen Noor Civil Aviation Technical College.
- Assistance in the return of Iraqi owned commercial
aviation assets currently outside Iraq, listing of all Iraqi
owned assets in Jordan and facilitating the access of CPA
personnel to the equipment, in addition to an update on the
maintenance history or status of the aircraft and equipment
with a recommendation as to flightworthiness.
Following a meeting between Iraqi civil aviation
representatives and the Jordanian Minister of Transport, an
agreement was reached to conduct a 4-week training program
for a total of 29 Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority personnel.
The training program includes a Control Procedural
(Non-Radar) Refresher courses, Air Traffic Control
Supervisors courses, and Automated Identification System
training courses. The program is envisioned to be the first
in a series of such events designed to upgrade the skills of
Iraq's civil aviation personnel, in cooperation with the
national flag carrier, Royal Jordanian with the group of 27
Iraqi air traffic controllers having completed a training
program in mid-November 2003 at the Queen Nour College
Banking Sector
The CPA requested conducting training programs for Iraqi
managers from Rafidain and Rasheed banks at Jordan,s
Institute of Banking Studies. The programs will provide a
comprehensive, practical overview of key principles of
commercial bank operations including credit evaluation,
financial statements, bank branch management and the
implementation of business plans to operate effectively in a
competitive economic environment.
Meetings were held between representatives of the
CPA/Ministry of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank
of Jordan in addition to a separate meeting between
representatives of the commercial banks in Jordan and the
CPA/Ministry of Finance to identify the needs of the banking
system in Iraq. Based on these meetings training was
designed for Iraqi banking sector personnel to be held in
Iraq. The program includes 6 training components comprising
of the following:
- Banking Operations training for the duration of 21 days
or the equivalent of 126 credit hours.
- Bank Credit training for the duration of 17 days or the
equivalent of 102 credit hours.
- Money and Capital Markets (Treasury Operations)
training for the duration of 8 days or the equivalent of 48
credit hours.
- Banks and Branches Management for the duration of 10
days or the equivalent 60 credit hours.
- Specialized Banking Topics training for the duration of
8 days or the equivalent of 48 credit hours.
- Comprehensive Computer Programs training for the
duration of 5 days or the equivalent of 40 hours.
The program was sent to the Ministry of Finance for their
review and final approval.
Health
The CPA requested assistance in six key areas: Healthcare
Delivery and Financing; Public and Environmental Health;
Pharmaceuticals; Education, Training, and Licensing; Health
Information; and IT.
As such, a series of technical meetings were held with
representatives from the Iraqi Ministry of Health as well as
representatives from the CPA to discuss the requirements of
this vital sector in Iraq and possible means of cooperation
and assistance which the Jordanian MOH will be offering.
Telecommunications
The Government of Jordan received a request for assistance in
the following areas:
- Developing a licensing regime for Iraqi Telcom
Regulatory Authority (ITRA).
- Interconnection of Iraqi and Jordanian fiber network.
- Training for Iraqi Ministries, officials.
The request is currently being processed by the Jordanian
Ministry of Information and Communications Technology.
Moreover, the Ministry of Information and Communications
Technology and Jordan Telecom announced in November 2003 the
completion of a fiber optic cable link between Jordan and
Iraq. The project, carried out by Jordan Telecom and the
Iraqi Telecom and Post Iraqi Public Company, was the result
of coordination between the telecom ministries of both
countries.
Extending over 400 km on Jordanian territory, the link was
completed employing digital communications equipment, that
uses SDH technology with a 622 MBPS capacity The cable will
enable Jordan to act as a transit point for
telecommunications traffic from Iraq to the international
network (the fiber link across the globe) via the
port city of Aqaba. Also, the Aqaba link to the FLAG Telecom
project, which extends from Britain to Japan, was expected to
increase eight-fold Jordan's telephone and Internet capacity,
with 13 other European, Middle Eastern and Asian countries
attached to the network.
Cooperation between the Government of Jordan and the
Government of Japan
Based upon the Japanese,s Government pledge made during the
International Donor,s Conference on Reconstruction in Iraq
held in October 2003 in Madrid, negotiations have been
initiated between the Government of Jordan (GOJ), represented
by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation
(MOPIC), the Japanese Embassy in Amman and Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the provision of
training programs for Iraqi personnel through the Third
Country Training Program for Iraqi personnel funded by the
Japanese government that will be executed in Jordan.
The Government of Jordan in coordination with JICA is
currently finalizing the necessary arrangements for
conducting the above stated programs, in order to sign the
Record of Discussions which will set the framework of the
training courses for each of the ten areas identified by
JICA. The training programs will cover seven areas, namely
health, education, agriculture, culture, statistics, police
training, electricity, water and sanitation, urban
development, and the preservation of cultural heritage.
1. Health
The Ministry of Health will conduct specialized training
courses that address 6 areas identified by the JICA office in
Iraq:
- Delivery of Basic Primary Health Care Services
- Environmental Health Services
- Community Health Services
- Pharmaceuticals
- Information Technology
- Laboratory Training
The Jordanian Ministry of Health and JICA have prepared the
draft Framework for the necessary training courses including
the estimated costs. The Framework was presented to the Iraqi
Ministry of Health for their comments and feedback, in order
to finalize the above stated courses.
2. Education
Based on the request presented to the Ministry of Education
in the provision of training courses for Iraqi personnel, the
Ministry of Education identified the following areas:
- International Computer Driving License Courses
- Vocational Training Education
- Design of a new curriculum system and textbooks
- Improvement and implementation of the examination system
The Jordanian Ministry of Education and JICA have prepared
the draft Training Program Framework for the training courses
including the estimated costs. The Framework was presented to
the Iraqi Ministry of Education for their comments and
feedback, in order to finalize the above stated courses.
3. Agriculture
The Ministry of Agriculture expressed its readiness to assist
in the provision of training courses as part of the Japanese
Third Country Training Program, in the following areas:
- Water Management
- Marketing of Agriculture products
- Formulation of National Strategies for the
Agricultural Sector
- Rehabilitation of Saline Environments
- Increasing Private Sector Investments in Agricultural
Sector
The Ministry of Agriculture is currently waiting for JICA,s
feedback regarding the proposed training course in order to
estimate the costs and finalize the framework for the
training courses.
4. Culture
The Jordanian Ministry of Culture and JICA have prepared a
draft Training Program Framework for personnel from the
Iraqi Ministry of Culture which was subsequently presented to
the Ministry for their feedback and comments, for its
finalization.
5. Statistics
The Department of Statistic (DOS) and JICA and the Iraqi
Department of Statistics have finalized the Training Program
Framework to conduct a training course to improve the
knowledge and techniques of Iraqi personnel in the field of
National Accounts and Statistics. JICA is currently
finalizing the final necessary arrangements with the Iraqi
Department of Statistics in order to conduct the above
training course.
6. Electricity
Discussion Records were signed between the Ministry of
Planning and International Cooperation, JICA, and the
National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) for a training
program for a total of 40 engineers from the Iraqi Ministry
of Electricity. The program is scheduled to start on 4 May
2004 for the duration of 2 months.
7. Police Training
In response to the request presented to the Public Security
Directorate, the Directorate has expressed it readiness to
conduct 5 different advanced training courses at the same
time with an average of 200 trainees, with 30-40 trainees for
each course. The courses will cover the following areas:
1) Qualifications of Police Leadership in the following
levels:
- Senior Leadership
- Intermediate Leadership
- Advanced Security
- Police Management
- Basic Security
2) Qualifications of Police Officers in specialized topics:
- Crime Scene
- Anti-Narcotics
- Training of Trainers
- Operations Management
- Crisis Management
- Fire-Arms
- Public Order
- V.I.P. Protection
- Explosives Disposal
- Detective Police
- Correctional Centers
- Special Branch
- Installation Security
- Forensic Sciences
- Traffic Accidents Investigation
- Traffic Management
- Physical Training
- C.I.D.
3) Qualifications of Police Officers according to
International Standards and Human Rights
- Definition of International Law and Human Rights
- Women, Children, and Minorities in Law Enforcement
- Protection of Victims of Crime and Authority Abuse
- Immunity in Law Enforcement
The Public Security Directorate and JICA have prepared the
draft Training Program Framework. JICA is currently in the
process of contacting the Iraqi Ministry of Interior to
present the draft Framework for their feedback and comments.
8. Water and Sanitation
A meeting was held at the Jordanian Ministry of Planning and
International Cooperation between the Jordanian Ministry of
Water and Irrigation and JICA during which the Jordanian
Ministry of Water and Irrigation identified the areas of
assistance it can offer to the Iraqi Ministry of Water. These
include:
- Water Quality
- Laboratories
- Water Desalination
- Water Purification
- Water Sewage Treatment Plants
- Water Treatment Plants
- Maintenance of Water Networks
- Water Wells
An understanding was reached between the Government of Jordan
and JICA that GOJ represented by either the MOWI or MOPIC
will present theses proposed areas of assistance to the Iraqi
side.
9. Preservation of Archaeological Sites
A meeting was held at MOPIC between JICA and the Jordanian
Department of Antiquities, during which both sides agreed
that the Department of Antiquities will draft and present a
Training Program Framework to JICA for their feedback. The
training program will concentrate on the mechanisms of
establishing a databank at the Iraqi Ministry of Antiquities
and development and implementation of preservation and
protection of archaeological sites programs.
GNEHM