VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAM #3697 2461352
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031352Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0222

UNCLAS AMMAN 003697 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTUION OUTSIDE USG 
FOR NEA/ELA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: JO PGOV SENV EAID EFIN PINR
SUBJECT: LIMITED CABINET RESHUFFLE BRINGS IN THREE 
TECHNOCRATS 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 3557 
     ¶B. AMMAN 3215 
     ¶C. 06 AMMAN 8572 
 
¶1. (U) As expected, Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit announced 
September 2 the names of three ministers to replace vacancies 
left by recent resignations (reftels).  All three new 
ministers are considered technocrats by observers: the new 
Minister of Finance was promoted from Secretary General (the 
number two position), while the new Minister of Health and 
Minister of Water and Irrigation arrive with strong academic 
backgrounds in their respective fields. 
 
¶2. (SBU) This announcement should bring to an end public 
speculation about the near-term future of the Bakhit 
government (originally named in November 2005, with a minor 
cabinet reshuffle made in November 2006 (ref C)).  By 
limiting the reshuffle to the appointment of these three 
technocrats to fill the vacant ministries, the Government has 
likely signaled that it will remain in place until the 
November parliamentary elections. 
 
3.(SBU/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OUTSIDE USG) Minister of Finance 
- Dr. Hamad Kasasbeh 
 
Kasasbeh is a Muslim East Banker, born in Karak in 1956.  He 
earned a BA (1980) in Economics and a Masters in Statistics 
(1983) from the University of Jordan.  He has a PhD in 
Economics from Colombia University (1990).  Kasasbeh worked 
as an economic researcher and advisor at the Central Bank 
from 1980-1996.  He was appointed General Manager of the 
Municipal Development Bank and served there until 1999. 
Kasasbeh authored 14 publications in the field of finance and 
taught at the University of Jordan. He was Secretary General 
of the Auditing Bureau from 1999 until 2003.  In 2003 he was 
assigned Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance. 
Kasasbeh favors elimination of Jordan's subsidy programs, 
especially the fuel subsidy which led to his predecessor's 
resignation (ref A). 
 
¶4.  (SBU/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OUTSIDE USG) Minister of Health 
- Dr. Salah Mawajdeh 
 
Dr. Mawajdeh is a Muslim East Banker, born in Amman in 1957. 
He studied medicine at the University of Jordan and later 
received his masters and doctorate degrees in Health Policy 
and Management from Johns Hopkins University.  Mawajdeh has 
worked in several roles in the health sector since 1983.  He 
published more than 20 scientific and books and papers and 
participated in numerous seminars worldwide.  In 1994, he was 
awarded the WHO Gender and Tropical Diseases Award for his 
paper, "The Assessment of the Quality of Parental Care in 
Irbid, North Jordan: Women's Perspective."  Mawajdeh served 
as Director of the Jordan Food and Drug Administration and as 
Regional Coordinator of the Reproductive Health Working Group 
in the Population Council in Cairo. 
 
¶5.  (SBU/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OUTSIDE USG) Minister of Water 
and Irrigation - Dr. Mohammad Shatnawi 
 
Dr. Shatnawi is a Muslim East Banker born in Irbid in 1945. 
He earned a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of 
California, majoring in hydraulics with minors in irrigation 
and engineering analysis. Shatnawi headed the Department of 
Soils and Irrigation and taught water resources and 
i-T'lHhkm#QHity of Jordan.  He has served as 
Dean of the Agriculture Faculty.  He has 25 years experience 
in water resources management, water and agriculture policy, 
irrigation systems design, hydrology of arid areas and 
environmental impact of water and irrigation projects.  He 
worked for FAO in Egypt as an expert on water and irrigation 
(1989-1991). 
 
Rubinstein