VZCZCXRO3064
RR RUEHDE RUEHLA
DE RUEHAM #3361/01 3580423
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 230423Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4008
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
INFO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 1267
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 0789
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 6129
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 0124
RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 0006
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0170
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 2956
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 0054
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 0246
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 3861
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0189
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 4028
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0273
RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 0015
RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 0038
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1232
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 0121
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 0045
RUEHMS/AMEMBASSY MUSCAT 0545
RUEHBH/AMEMBASSY NASSAU 0004
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RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 0018
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0056
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 0054
RUEHTG/AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA 0013
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1454
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 0357
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RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 0469
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 5274
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0038

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 AMMAN 003361 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ELA AND ISN 
ENERGY FOR DOE/NNSA/NA256 (BEDKE) AND DOE/NNSA/NA21 (ROBINSON) 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ETTC PARM PREL KSTC JO
 
SUBJECT:  U.S. AND JORDAN SIGN MEGAPORTS AGREEMENT 
 
REF:  A)  AMMAN 2994 
      B)  07 STATE 148399 
 
Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for internet distribution. 
 
¶1.  (U)  Following more than two years of negotiation, the 
Ambassador and Jordan Nuclear Regulatory Commission (JNRC) Director 
General Dr. Jamal Sharaf signed on December 16 the Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) to launch the Megaports Initiative designed to 
reduce the risk of nuclear proliferation and illicit trafficking of 
nuclear and radiological materials through Jordanian ports of entry. 
 The Ambassador welcomed Jordan as a Megaports partner, commenting 
that strengthening Jordan's ability to prevent terrorists from 
acquiring, smuggling, or using nuclear materials was not only good 
for the country and the region, but also for the rest of the world. 
Sharaf expressed appreciation for the U.S. capacity-building 
investment in Jordan, saying the assistance and training would 
contribute greatly to JNRC efforts and long-term plans to grow from 
its current staff of 30 to eventually 300 employees. 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Commenting on Jordan's need to enhance border security, 
Sharaf recommended the National Nuclear Safety Administration make 
the Jaber border crossing with Syria a priority.  Sharaf added the 
JNRC was "eager to benefit from the U.S. experience" and was 
particularly interested in environmental monitoring and better 
managing radiological devises used in medicine, explaining that in 
contrast to the U.S., the use of radiation dominated the medical 
field and was barely used in industry.  He also said he planned to 
visit the Nuclear Regulatory Commission soon.  Continuing the 
discussion on training, JNRC Board Member and Jordan Atomic Energy 
Commissioner for Nuclear Sciences and Applications, Professor 
Abdul-Halim Wriekat, encouraged regional and international workshops 
and seminars for all Megaports Initiative countries and asked the 
U.S. to arrange for more visits by American scientists for training 
and consultations. 
 
¶3.  (U)  In addition to Wriekat, the following JNRC board members 
and staff attended the MOU signing: 
 
--  Dr. Sa'ed Dababneh, JNRC Vice-Chairman of the Board; 
--  Eng. Faris Al-Junaidi, JNRC Board Member and Secretary General 
of the Ministry of Environment; 
--  Dr. Mohammad Zuboon, JNRC Board Member and representative of the 
Ministry of Health; 
--  Mr. Abdallah Obaidat, JNRC Assistant Director, JNRC; and 
--  Ms. Yumn Habjouqa, JNRC Head of International Cooperation 
 
¶4.  (U)  Post also coordinated with NNSA the simultaneous release in 
Washington and Amman of a statement announcing the MOU signing (para 
5).  All major Arabic newspapers and the government news agency 
covered the December 16 signing ceremony.  The following day, these 
outlets published lengthy, inside-page stories, with photos, on the 
event.  The contents drew heavily on the NNSA-drafted press release 
 
AMMAN 00003361  002 OF 003 
 
 
and statements made by the Ambassador. 
 
¶5.  (U)  Begin text of press release: 
 
U.S. and Jordan Sign Agreement to Prevent Smuggling of Nuclear and 
Radioactive Material 
 
AMMAN - The United States and Jordan signed an agreement today to 
begin a cooperative effort to detect, deter, and interdict illicit 
smuggling of nuclear and other radioactive material. In a ceremony 
at the headquarters of the Jordan Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
JNRC Director General Dr. Jamal Sharaf signed the agreement together 
with American Ambassador Stephen Beecroft. 
 
The agreement provides a foundation for the U.S. Department of 
Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to 
cooperate with the Jordan Nuclear Regulatory Commission (JNRC) and 
other government agencies, in order to install radiation detection 
equipment and associated infrastructure at the Port of Aqaba and at 
selected land border crossings.  In addition, NNSA will train 
Jordanian officials on the use of such equipment and provide 
maintenance services for a specified period. 
 
"The United States and Jordan have signed an agreement today that 
will enhance Jordan's ability to prevent the smuggling of nuclear 
and radiological material by expanding its detection systems to 
include airports, seaports, and land border crossings," said Deputy 
Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation William Tobey. 
"We are pleased to count Jordan among our partners in the global 
effort to prevent nuclear terrorism and proliferation." 
 
The work will be performed by NNSA's Second Line of Defense (SLD) 
Program, which works collaboratively with foreign governments at 
border crossings, airports, seaports and other points of entry to 
install specialized radiation detection equipment and associated 
communications equipment.  The SLD Program also provides training to 
host government border guard officials and other personnel to detect 
smuggled nuclear and other radioactive materials.  NNSA has 
installed similar equipment at over 230 sites around the world. 
 
Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency 
within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing 
national security through the military application of nuclear 
science.  NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, 
reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile 
without nuclear testing; works to reduce global danger from weapons 
of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective 
nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological 
emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.  Visit www.nnsa.energy.gov for 
more information. 
 
Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman 
 
AMMAN 00003361  003 OF 003 
 
 
 
BEECROFT