By Nawal Sayed
CAIRO, Feb. 13 (SEE) – Charge d’affaires of USA in Egypt Thomas Goldberger said that Warsaw's Conference is deemed an opportunity for key players to discuss peace and security issues in the Middle East.
Goldberger stressed that the Conference will tackle various issues and it's not
"anti-Iran" gathering.
"Palestinians are invited and the US will
not launch a plan in Warsaw," Goldberger noted. "We want to hear from the
region."
Foreign ministers and senior officials from
60 nations gather in the Polish capital Warsaw on Wednesday where the United
States hopes to ratchet up pressure against Iran despite concerns among major
European countries about heightened tensions with Tehran.
"Egypt will take
part in the Warsaw Summit as Cairo plays a pivotal role in the Middle
East," diplomatic sources told SEE.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif delivers his statement, during the Geneva Conference on Afghanistan, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, November 28, 2018. Salvatore Di Nolfi/Pool via REUTERS
However, the absence of foreign ministers
from major European powers, Germany and France, highlights festering tensions
with the European Union over U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision last year
to withdraw from a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and re-impose sanctions.
EU policy chief, Federica Mogherini, who
was a key player in the Iran nuclear deal, will also not attend the two-day
conference due to scheduling issues, an EU official said, although U.S.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Brussels on Friday to meet with
her.
Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Lazienki Palace in Warsaw, Poland February 12, 2019. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel
On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu says the focus of Wednesday's Mideast conference in Warsaw
will be Iran.
Speaking to reporters before departing for
Poland on Tuesday, Netanyahu said Israel enjoys "very good relations"
with every country in the region "except Syria."
Netanyahu says he doesn't think the Trump
administration's "Deal of the Century" peace plan will be discussed.
Rather, he says, participating countries will address "the most important
topic for our national security," namely, Iran.
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