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FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
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INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 000314 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA MGREGONIS, NEA/PI TCWITTES 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2020 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM KMPI KWMN JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN: GOVERNMENT, CIVIL SOCIETY, AND YOUTH 
DISCUSS REFORM CHALLENGES WITH DAS WITTES 
 
Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( 
d). 
 
 
¶1. (S/NF) Summary: In meetings with NEA Deputy Assistant 
Secretary Tamara Wittes January 26-28, government officials, 
representatives of civil society, and alumni of Middle East 
Partnership Initiative (MEPI) programs discussed the 
challenges of democratic reform and sought further U.S. 
assistance to support Jordan during this critical election 
year.  DAS Wittes took the opportunity to reiterate U.S. 
support for democratic reform in Jordan and also stressed the 
crucial role Jordanians themselves have in ensuring free, 
fair, and transparent elections; in creating a vibrant civil 
society and partnerships that connect public and private 
sectors; and in tapping into the capable and dynamic power of 
Jordan's youth. End Summary. 
 
PUBLIC TRUST AND THE REFORM FORMULA 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (S/NF) Minister of Political Development Musa Maaytah, in 
his meeting with DAS Wittes January 26, outlined the 
government's efforts "to create faith in the process" of 
democratic reform.  He said the dissolution of parliament was 
a necessary step, backed by 85 percent of the Jordanian 
people, according to a recent survey.  The former parliament 
was "impossible to work with," he said, citing corrupt 
practices, parliamentarians' inexperience in the political 
sphere, and a lack of trust on the part of the public.  He 
spoke optimistically about new PM Rifai, saying, "It is not 
easy to make reforms, but this one wants it."  New codes of 
conduct regulating relations between ministries and the 
parliament as well as between ministries and the press will 
help prevent misuse of power and restore public trust in the 
government, he said. 
 
¶3. (S/NF) Minister Maaytah and DAS Wittes agreed that 2010 
will be a critical year for electoral reform.  The minister 
said the government was engaging in a "strategic dialogue" to 
develop an electoral law to address the voting system, 
districting, and the quota for women MPs.  He said he 
envisioned a system that more accurately represents the large 
population of urban areas and a higher quota for women MPs, 
from the current six to twelve (possibly one from each 
governorate).  The minister described what he called a 
"formula for reform," whereby those benefiting from the 
status quo do not lose more than they can afford to lose, so 
that they do not become spoilers; and those that stand to 
gain from the reform gain enough to keep faith in the process. 
 
¶4. (S/NF) Maaytah emphasized that progress in electoral 
reform must be accomplished "step by step," in order to 
resist conservative elements and said that 2010 will be a 
critical year not only for electoral reform, but for 
stability in Jordan, as well.  While stressing that reform 
must be "home-grown" and citing his ministry's plans to work 
with civil society on an awareness campaign and candidate 
training before elections, he asked for further U.S. 
assistance, perhaps in training new parliamentarians after 
elections.  He also stressed USG's political and diplomatic 
role in pressing forward a reform agenda with the GOJ.  "The 
next year will be challenging for us as reformers, and we 
need political support in resisting conservative forces," he 
said.  DAS Wittes encouraged the minister to look at the 
coming year as an opportunity to improve representation, 
expand the public's confidence in the government, and carry 
out reforms for a more democratic and transparent system. 
 
CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE PROTECTION OF THE VULNERABLE 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶5. (S/NF) In a meeting with DAS Wittes January 27, Minister 
of Social Development Hala Latouf described challenges her 
ministry faces in the "bumpy" path of democratic reform as it 
aims to help Jordan's most vulnerable groups.  She conceded 
that her ministry is viewed by some as weak, but not because 
of a lack of political will.  "It's a big task to protect and 
assist the poor, the marginalized, the handicapped, the 
elderly -- especially when we must play politics," she said. 
She explained that the ministry tackles the more thorny 
issues of domestic violence, so-called honor killings, and 
women's rights as "family issues," in order to be more 
culturally acceptable and that she sometimes calls on local 
religious leaders to issue fatwas protecting women and 
children in order to change behavior and raise awareness. 
She said that the momentum on democratic reform should be 
kept "slow and steady," to avoid setbacks with the Islamists. 
 
 
AMMAN 00000314  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶6. (S/NF) On the controversial associations law passed by the 
parliament in 2009, Latouf said it was "not an easy law" 
given the conservative tendencies and conspiracy theories on 
the part of MPs regarding civil society and foreign 
influence.  However, she said that the end result was a good 
law that sets the stage for progress.  The law created a 
board of registrars that includes representatives from civil 
society, established the notion of good governance, and set a 
standard for the government's delivery of service, all of 
which aim at more transparency and less corruption, she said. 
 At the same time, the minister conceded that the board will 
consider security issues and cultural sensitivities in 
approving or denying organizations' registration.  DAS Wittes 
underscored the importance of a vibrant civil society and 
assurances of a transparent process, especially in the 
lead-up to elections; to which Latouf responded, "We would 
like more assurances, but that would be a hard fight right 
now." 
 
¶7. (S/NF) DAS Wittes and the minister discussed the opening 
of Dar Al Wefaq, a women's shelter providing a range of 
social services, counseling, legal assistance, and other 
services as a one-stop-shop model and the first of its kind 
in the Middle East region.  Mentioning that this initiative 
began as a MEPI project to create public-private 
partnerships, DAS Wittes commended Latouf for her leadership 
in the project and cited it as a model for effective 
partnerships.  Minister Latouf agreed and said that the MOSD 
is planning to open another shelter in the southern town of 
Ma'an.  She added, however, that the bulk of service 
provision continues to fall to the ministry and that civil 
society organizations, with the exception of a few large 
ones, have not been stepping up to the plate.  With a 100 
percent increase in reported cases, the ministry's resources 
are overstretched, she said, "and there's no way the 
government alone can keep up."  Civil society, she said, 
needs to be more engaged and bear more responsibility to 
create meaningful public-private partnerships. 
 
YOUTH 
------ 
 
¶8. (U) During her visit to Amman, DAS Wittes met with 
numerous youth from the MEPI Alumni Network, MEPI local 
grants projects, USAID programs, the media, and civil 
society.  She repeatedly emphasized that the youth 
demographic is key to Jordan's democratic reform path and 
urged youth to take an active leadership role in shaping the 
dialogue and affecting change.  At a dinner with MEPI alumni 
young professionals hosted by Ambassador Beecroft, the DAS 
initiated a discussion on the respective roles of the private 
sector and civil society in helping advance societal 
development, sparking a livey exchange of views on the 
subject of whether private and public sectors can partner 
effectively, or whether their different motivations prevent 
cooperation.  Some argued that the private sector -- and even 
civil society organizations -- can only go so far without 
significant government action on reform.  Overall, however, 
the youth seemed energized and encouraged by the DAS to seek 
ways to make a difference in their communities. 
 
¶9. (S/NF) Comment: DAS Tamara Wittes' visit to Jordan yielded 
productive discussions with government officials, civil 
society, program partners, and youth on the challenges Jordan 
faces in the year ahead, particularly on democratic reform. 
Her engagement with these groups served as a good opportunity 
to reiterate the U.S. commitment to and support of free, 
fair, and transparent elections, a vibrant civil society, 
freedom of expression (see septel), and youth empowerment. 
End comment. 
 
¶10. (U) This cable was cleared by DAS Tamara Wittes. 
 
Beecroft