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Travel Journal of the Vice President’s Trip to Morocco, Ukraine, Turkey:

November 20, 2014 at 2:55 PM ET by Stephen Spector
Summary: 
Welcome to your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about Vice President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden’s three-country, five-day visit to Morocco, Ukraine, and Turkey.

Welcome to your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about Vice President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden’s three-country, five-day visit to Morocco, Ukraine, and Turkey.

November 22-23, 2014   Vice President Biden Wraps Up His Trip in Turkey

The Vice President wrapped up his three-country trip last week with a visit to Istanbul, Turkey.

The Vice President had an opportunity to meet individually with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. At these meetings, the Vice President and the leaders discussed a range of important bilateral issues:

  • Fighting ISIL in Syria and Iraq
  • Coping with the regional humanitarian crisis
  • Countering the threat posed by foreign fighters
  • Promoting the Cyprus settlement process

“And the one thing that is absolutely clear is that the depth of that friendship and the resolve of that partnership is as strong as it has ever been,” Vice President said after meeting with President Erdogan. “In spite of the fact that the world is facing and we collectively are facing some difficult problems right now.”

The Vice President also addressed the Atlantic Council Economic and Energy Summit, where he discussed energy security challenges and our strategic vision of a Europe that's whole, free, and at peace.

“True energy security in Europe is going to require some tough decisions,” the Vice President said before an audience of foreign leaders and business executives.

Before departing for the Washington on Sunday, the Vice President met with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to discuss religious freedom and interfaith dialogue.

“This is a really fine man,” the Vice President said about the Patriarch.

 

Afterward, the Vice President and Dr. Biden toured the Süleymaniye Mosque, the largest in Istanbul.

November 21, 2014   Vice President Biden in Ukraine: “You are a remarkable people, the Ukrainian people”

Last Friday, the Vice President visited Kyiv, Ukraine, his third visit in the last seven months.

The Vice President’s visit coincided with Ukraine’s first annual Day of Freedom and Dignity, which marks the one-year anniversary since protests and calls for government reform first began.

The Vice President’s agenda included meetings with President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk to discuss:

  • Government formation
  • Reform agenda
  • Energy security
  • Situation in the east

These issues underscored the Vice President’s message to the Ukrainian people: Keep working to build the democracy that Ukraine rightfully deserves.

Following his meetings with the President and Prime Minister, the Vice President reflected, “This is an important moment -- a chance to make good on the promise of 25 years ago when the Iron Curtain came down…You are a remarkable people, the Ukrainian people. You’re a brave people. And you’ve demonstrated that once again to the whole world.”

Before departing Kyiv, the Vice President had an opportunity to recognize Ukraine’s Day of Freedom and dignity by laying flowers at a memorial for those who were killed during protests this past year.

November 20, 2014   Dates and Milk Welcome Vice President and Dr. Biden to Morocco

Vice President Obama Receives Dates in Morocco

November 19, 2014. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

The first stop on the Vice President and Dr. Biden's three-country trip was Morocco. The Vice President and Dr. Biden's visit started on a sweet note, as they were greeted at the airport with dates and milk, a traditional Moroccan welcome. 

Morocco has a special place in the history and hearts of Americans because it was the first nation in the world to recognize the United States nearly 237 years ago. The Vice President's visit, the first by a sitting U.S. Vice President in decades, marked the latest chapter in a long and storied friendship. 

After arriving, the Vice President met with His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco. The two reaffirmed our countries' alliance and enduring friendship. The Vice President and King discussed a range of issues, including: 

  • Achieving a secure, stable, and prosperous Magreb, Africa, and Middle East
  • The two countries' efforts together as part of the international coalition against ISIL
  • Non-military aspects to combat violent extremism
  • Morocco's important role as a gateway for trade and investment in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Vice President Biden Meets King Mohammed VI

November 19, 2014. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

On Thursday, the Vice President addressed the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, an annual gathering of entrepreneurs and business, government, and thought leaders. 

In his remarks, the Vice President announced that the U.S. government has committed to a bold new goal to expand economic opportunity by sparking $1 billion in new private investments for entrepreneurs worldwide. In fact, half of these investments will be generated by women and young entrepreneurs. 

"When I travel the region and the entire world, I see young people with limitless promise to make not only their countries but the whole world better...That is the reality. That's the world we live in," Vice President Biden said. 

The Vice President Speaks at the global Entrepreneurship Summit

November 20, 2014. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Next stop on the trip: Kyiv, Ukraine. Stay tuned for more updates from the road. 

November 18. 2014:

Tomorrow, the Vice President will be in Morocco, where he’ll meet with King Mohammed VI in Fez to discuss a number of issues. And on Thursday, the Vice President will deliver remarks to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Marrakesh. This is the fifth Global Entrepreneurship Summit since President Obama first announced the program in a speech at Cairo University in 2009.

The summit is a way to bring together world leaders to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world. It’s also the Vice President’s second summit address. His first one was in Istanbul in 2011, where he told young entrepreneurs they "have a chance like no other generation of entrepreneurs to direct the world, to steer it, to bend the curve in the direction of progress, openness, humanity."

After his speech on Thursday, the Vice President will then meet with young leaders from around the world to discuss the importance of youth entrepreneurship.

Stay tuned for updates, photos, and videos from the road. For now, check out the schedule of the trip:

Wednesday, November 19th

The Vice President will meet with King Mohammed VI of Morocco.

Thursday, November 20th

In the morning, the Vice President will deliver remarks to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. Afterwards, the Vice President will attend a roundtable discussion with youth entrepreneurs.

In the afternoon, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will depart Marrakech en route Kyiv, Ukraine.

Friday, November 21st

In the morning, the Vice President will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk at the Cabinet of Ministers Club.  In the afternoon, the Vice President will attend a working lunch with President Poroshenko at the House of Chimeras. Following their lunch, the Vice President and President Poroshenko will deliver a joint statement to the press at the Presidential Administration Building.

Afterwards, the Vice President will attend a roundtable discussion on anti-corruption efforts. In the evening, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will depart Kyiv en route Istanbul, Turkey.

Later in the evening, the Vice President will attend a working dinner with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

Saturday, November 22nd

In the morning, the Vice President will deliver remarks and participate in a moderated discussion with the Atlantic Council Energy Conference.

Afterwards, the Vice President will attend a meeting of the National Democratic Institute "Checks and Balances Networ."

Later, the Vice President will attend a working lunch with President Erdogan at the Beylerbeyi Palace.

Sunday, November 23rd

In the morning, the Vice President will meet with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

In the afternoon, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will depart Istanbul en route Washington, DC.