Cablegate: Jordan Planning to Attend the Arab

VZCZCXRO8668
PP RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHAM #0638 0581410
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271410Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1927
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS AMMAN 000638

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR NEA/I - JOSH DAVIS
FOR S/I
FOR NEA/ELA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IZ JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN PLANNING TO ATTEND THE ARAB
INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION MEETING IN ERBIL

REF: STATE 18226

1. (SBU) Polcouns delivered reftel demarche February 25 to
Jamal Al-Shamayleh, director of the Foreign Minister's
private office. Shamayleh was not aware of the issue, but
after a quick phone call to the Jordanian parliament's
Secretary General, confirmed that Jordan's parliament was

SIPDIS
planning to send a delegation to attend the Arab
Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting in Erbil and was assembling
its delegation. Shamayleh said the delegation was likely,
but not certain, to be lead by Speaker of the lower house
Abdelhadi al-Majali, who as president of the AIPU during its
meeting in Aqaba last year, had endorsed the holding of this
meeting in Erbil. Shamayleh also assured polcouns that the
GOJ had no objection to parliamentary attendance in Erbil.

2. (SBU) Poloff followed up on February 27 with Sufian
al-Hassan, director of research in Jordan's lower house and
the lead official for outside conferences. Hassan had
previously indicated that preparations were under way for
Jordanian participation, and that an Iraqi delegation had
recently been in town to coordinate technical issues with
Speaker Majali. Hassan showed poloff a two-inch thick file
on the conference that he has already prepared for the
Jordanian delegation - an indication that attendance is
expected. Hassan said that Majali would "almost certainly"
be going to Erbil, as his role as the current chair of the
organization necessitated his attendance so as to turn over
the chairmanship. Hassan noted that other MPs would be
joining Majali, but the list was still uncertain due to
shifting schedules.
HALE

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