Former President of the United States Jimmy Carter speaks at the Elders Group press conference in Yangon, Myanmar, Sept. 26, 2013. (Xinhua/U Aung)
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has been invited to attend the United Nations Security Council's Arria formula meeting on the Middle East on Feb. 22, the body's president for February said Thursday.
The Arria formula meetings are very informal and confidential gatherings which enable council members to have a frank and private exchange of views. The meetings are called for the purpose of a briefing given by one or more persons, considered as experts in a matter of concern to the council.
The former U.S. president, during whose term in office the Camp David Accords were brokered, had followed the Palestinian-Israeli problem for a long time, Kuwait's Ambassador to the United Nations Mansour Al-Otaibi, president of the council for February, said at a press briefing.
Carter had a role to play and that was why he was invited, he added.
Carter bridged wide gaps between then Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat and Israeli leader Menachem Begin, leading to the Camp David Accords in September 1978, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will attend the United Nations Security Council's meeting on the situation in the Middle East on Feb. 20, according to the monthly council president.
The meetings on the Middle East are in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital last December, which triggered an outcry from the Palestinians.
