Cablegate: Coordinated Programming for 60th Anniversary Of

VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAM #4777 3391009
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 051009Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1129
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0880
INFO RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 4721

UNCLAS AMMAN 004777

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR ECA/PE
IIP/G/NEA SELINA HOLT
NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA, NEA/ELA
R/PPR GRETCHEN WELCH
ECA ALINA ROMANOWSKI

TEL AVIV FOR PAO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: JO IS KPAO KMDR PREL
SUBJECT: Coordinated Programming for 60th Anniversary of
U.S.-Jordanian Relations and 60th Anniversary of Israel's
Independence

Reftel: Tel Aviv 3345

1. As mentioned in Reftel, Embassy Amman has begun planning several
high-impact events to commemorate 60 years of U.S.-Jordanian
diplomatic relations. (While actual U.S. diplomatic recognition
came in January 1949, we intend to begin our celebratory events in
the summer 2008.) Given Embassy Tel Aviv's expressed interest in
bringing similar cultural programming to Israel for the 60th
anniversary of Israeli independence and U.S.-Israel relations, Post
suggests that Amman, Tel Aviv, and the Department work jointly to
examine whether any large-scale or high impact cultural events
headed to Tel Aviv for the 60th anniversary of Israel's independence
might be suitable and feasible for programming in Amman at the same
time. We would, like Tel Aviv, need considerable financial
assistance from ECA or R or NEA to program such high profile acts as
Wynton Marsalis or a major theater troupe.

2. Post will reach out to ECA, NEA, and R to discuss possibilities,
and requests that Embassy Amman be kept in mind when discussing
possibilities for engaging cultural groups for Israel's 60th
anniversary. Given the two countries' proximity and diplomatic
relations, it might work out smoothly and efficiently to program a
group or troupe in both countries on the same tour. We will also
coordinate with Embassy Tel Aviv directly to see what sort of
complementarity might exist in our respective plans for our two
commemorations.

HALE

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