US Tells EU: You’re Not Invited To Syria Peace Talks

US Tells EU: You’re Not Invited To Syria Peace Talks While Europe is bearing the refugee burden, the Americans only want Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey at the table

This article originally appeared in German Economic News. Translated from the German by Paul Dunne.

Source: US Tells EU: You’re Not Invited To Syria Peace Talks

The US government has torpedoed European recommendations for a multi-lateral Syrian peace conference. In principle, Washington is in favour of peace talks – but without the EU at the table. The EU is bearing the greater part of the burden of the explusions [sic] from Syria. However the EU has also obviously wasted its chances with Russia.

There was a dispute between European diplomats and their US colleagues on the fringes of the UN General Assembly. The French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, had proposed a format for Syria similar to that used in the Iranian nuclear weapons affair. Great Britain, France and Germany came out strongly in favour of meeting alongside the USA, China, Russia and Iran.

Clearly the idea of treating Iran not as adversary but as partner aroused discontent among the Americans. As the Times of Israel reported, citing the Associated Press, the Americans said that such a format would be sensible – without the EU at the table. The discussions with Iran were started by the three EU states [mentioned above]. The Americans declined in 2006 to sit at the same table with Iran. Only three years later did Washington relent and take part in the discussions which eventually lead to an agreement.

The USA wants only the Russians, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey at the conference.

With its unconditional acquiescence in US foreign policy, the EU seems to have spoiled its chances with the Russians – at least for the present. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that he considers the participation of the USA, Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, Iran and Jordan for reasonable.

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