لقاء المجلس بالسفير “فرانك ويزنر” والدكتور “شبلي تلحمي”
January 31, 2017American Jews delegation discusses ECFA’s views on Egypt-US relations and ME peace process
February 8, 2017As part of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs’ interest in discussing regional and international changes affecting Egypt internally, it organized a panel discussion on 31 January 2017 at the Egyptian Diplomatic Club over a working lunch in honor of Ambassador Frank Wisner, former US Ambassador to Cairo, and Dr. Shibli Telhami, distinguished Middle East expert in the United States. The importance of the meeting is largely due to the explanations made by figures in direct touch with American political life, at a time questions about the orientations and foreign policy of President Trump’s administration have not stopped.
The meeting was attended by ECFA Chair Ambassador Dr. Mounir Zahran, ECFA Honorary Chair Ambassador Abdel Raouf Al-Reedy, and ECFA Director Ambassador Dr. Ezzat Saad. ECFA members Ambassadors Nabil Fahmy, Mohamed Shaker, Mohamed Abdellah, Mohamed Al-Orabi, Mohamed Tewfik, Ihab Wahba, Marwan Badr, ElSayed Amin Shalaby, Mohammed Anis Salem, Mahmoud Al-Saeed, Mr Makram Mohammed Ahmed and Dr. Mohamed Kamal.
Speaking on the depth of the current political situation of Trump era, Ambassador Wisner raised several points for consideration:
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The United States is now experiencing a challenging phase after President Donald Trump won the last presidential elections, which were greatly controversial both inside and outside the United States, especially after his decisions to prevent citizens of seven Arab Muslim countries from traveling to the United States. This decision has significant implications at the local, regional and international levels, as well as for American public opinion and media in particular, and diplomats too.
Ambassador Wisner continued at the beginning of the meeting to explain all the dimensions of the situation in America during the Trump era as follows:
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The United States always allows opposition. More than 100 diplomats have signed a memorandum against the President’s intransigent decisions to prevent the citizens of seven Muslim countries from traveling to the United States. Wisner stressed that, the US law protects any opposition entity, insures all rights to free expression of opinion and guarantees that it is applied fairly.
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The Washington is undergoing a period of deep and radical change he had never seen the like of in his diplomatic career, or perhaps before that. The United States has not seen a state of anxiety and tension, as it did over the past few days.
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He noted that everything that happened in the United States recently, is pushing for a revolutionary change that will lead to a deep and radical change in the US political reality to form a new political order.
Wisner emphasized that these movements are driving a profound change in political forces within the United States, not only from Democrats but also from Republicans, and that things are changing in the United States, are no longer as they were in previous years, and that these conflicts will produce a new political base within the United States. He called it a “revolutionary” situation in the American political reality.
Adding that there are certain principles must be taken into consideration when we are evaluating the current period, Wisner said President Trump is very strict, especially in sending direct signals internally, by reviewing some trade and economic agreements, as well as externally. He pointed out that Trump was extremely vocal in his speeches when he said that he would put the war against extremism – especially Islamic extremism – among his priorities during his tenure, and that he was interested in strengthening relations with Israel, Egypt and some Gulf countries, but with the exception of some countries.
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On the Middle East, Wisner said he is confident that the new US administration does not have a strategic vision for the region, but only has some impressions thereon. In his view, this represents a real opportunity for Egypt and other countries in the region to come up with a new scenario to renew the course of relations with the United States, especially since there are many points that can be agreed upon.
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Frank Wisner said that the next period for US – Egyptian relations, represents a real opportunity and a new challenge for each of the two countries, noting that, the new US administration has no real knowledge of Egypt, except the Minister of Defense,James Matisse.
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Therefore, Egypt has a real opportunity to reshape its relations with the United States as it sees fit. He said that this must be arranged in a very good and precise manner, and Egypt has a real opportunity to write its own scenario, including what is the most appropriate form of relations between the two countries within the framework of its strategic vision on the importance of these relations and their impact on the region, and what contexts Egypt wants for the course of bilateral relations in the next period.
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He stressed the need for Egypt to be very cautious in that, noting that there are a number of issues which the two countries have different issues in it, adding that, it must keep that into consideration and try to find common grounds and deepen points of convergence with the US on several issues such as the war on terrorism, Palestine-Israel reconciliation, and conditions in Jerusalem and in Syria and Iraq, as well as in Iran and some Gulf countries and other issues which require constant consultation.
