The website for the Jordanian Islamic Action Front (IAF) reported that 10 members of Jordan's parliament signed a memorandum demanding that the country's ambassador to Iraq not be dispatched to Baghdad. This comes shortly before the Jordanian government announced on Monday its intention to send its envoy to Iraq ‘in the near future’, following the lead of other Arab states. The country's diplomatic presence in Iraq is currently limited to a charges d’ affairs.
The MPs, about half of whom are affiliated with the IAF, issued the memorandum in a session of parliament this past Sunday. It appears that their disapproval of establishing full diplomatic relations with Iraq stems from both socio-economic and political issues.
They argue that Iraqi government has yet to recognize the large number of Iraqi refugees in Jordan (the IAF claims 1 million), which they say has had an impact on the Jordanian economy and resulted in increased pressure being placed upon the country's schools and hospitals. They also claim that the Iraqi government is not importing Jordanian products, and has placed barriers on such goods while favoring non-Jordanian ports and borders. According to the IAF report, the signees claim that obstacles have been put in place preventing the entry of trucks coming from Jordan into Iraq, and that Iraqi debts to Jordan remain outstanding. The MPs also allege that there are Jordanians being held in Iraqi and American prisons that have yet to be released.
While 10 MPs out of a parliament comprised of 110 seats may not be a significant number, their demands may indicate that the socio-economic impact of the situation in Iraq on Jordan may play to the favor of Jordan's political opposition if these issues are not addressed. Additional coverage on this can be seen here.
