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The Vice President Swears In Julián Castro as New HUD Secretary

August 18, 2014
04:25 PM EST

Vice President Joe Biden ceremonially swears in Julian Castro as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House, August 18, 2014. Also pictured are Secretary Castro's wife Erica, and daughter Carina. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Earlier this afternoon, Vice President Biden ceremonially swore in former San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro as the new Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Secretary Castro -- who was confirmed by the Senate last month in a 71-26 vote -- made significant progress in San Antonio and implemented a number of housing and economic development programs to help the city's residents. In a statement last month, President Obama called Secretary Castro "a proven leader -- a champion for safe, affordable housing and strong, sustainable neighborhoods."

The President also voiced his confidence that Secretary Castro will work in his new role to "build on the progress we've made battling back from the Great Recession" -- rebuilding America's housing market, reducing veteran homelessness, and connecting neighborhoods with good schools and jobs that help Americans succeed.

Readout of the Vice President's Call with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko

Vice President Joe Biden spoke today with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko about the situation in Ukraine. President Poroshenko noted that Ukrainian humanitarian assistance had already been delivered to the International Committee for the Red Cross, but that safe passage had still not been secured from the separatists for the delivery of Russian aid. The two leaders agreed that Russia’s sending military columns across the border into Ukraine and its continued provision of advanced weapons to the separatists was inconsistent with any desire to improve the humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine. Both leaders reaffirmed their support for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis and called on Russia to enter into good faith negotiations.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release

August 15, 2014

Readout of the Vice President's Call with Romanian President Traian Basescu

Vice President Joe Biden spoke today with Romanian President Traian Basescu to discuss bilateral relations, the NATO Summit in Wales, and the situation in Ukraine. Both leaders expressed their satisfaction with the strong bilateral relationship between the United States and Romania, and discussed the valuable contributions that Romania is making to international security. Vice President Biden and President Basescu agreed that NATO’s collective defense planning needs to be comprehensive and responsive to threats that may emanate from NATO’s east, south or southeast, and the two leaders exchanged views on their support and vision for NATO’s Readiness Action Plan that will be agreed to at the Summit in Wales. The two leaders also discussed the situation in Ukraine, and expressed concern that any attempt by Russia to intervene in Ukraine under the guise of delivering humanitarian aid would be considered a breach of international law and violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release

August 13, 2014

Readout of the Vice President's Call with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko

Vice President Joe Biden spoke today with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko regarding the situation in eastern Ukraine. President Poroshenko informed the Vice President about discussions underway between Ukraine and Russia regarding the modalities for delivery of Ukrainian, Russian, and international humanitarian assistance to the people of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine. The Vice President underscored that the United States would continue working with its international partners to press Russia to de-escalate the crisis, and end all support, arming, and financing of the separatists. The Vice President also stressed the United States’ support for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release

August 12, 2014

Readout of Vice President Biden's Call with Osama al-Nujaifi

Vice President Joe Biden spoke with Osama al-Nujaifi, the Speaker of the previous session of Iraq’s Council of Representatives, to discuss the next steps in Iraq’s government formation process following the nomination of Haider Al-Abadi as Prime Minister-designate. Vice President Biden praised Mr. Nujaifi’s statement yesterday welcoming the nomination and emphasized the strong support of the United States for Iraq’s constitutional process. Mr. Nujaifi noted the progress that has been made in forming a new government, and discussed his commitment to work alongside Dr. Abadi and other Iraqi leaders to convene a unity cabinet and develop a national program that reflects the aspirations of the Iraqi people. The Vice President restated the United States’ readiness to fully support a new and inclusive government in its fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant pursuant to the Strategic Framework Agreement. The two leaders agreed to stay in regular contact.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release

August 12, 2014

Readout of Vice President Biden's Call with Iraqi Council of Representatives Speaker Salim al-Jabouri

Vice President Joe Biden called Iraqi Council of Representatives Speaker Salim al-Jabouri to discuss the selection of Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi and the ongoing government formation process. Vice President Biden commended Speaker Jabouri for his efforts in leading the new Iraqi parliament, whose 328 members represent the will of the nearly 14 million citizens who risked their lives to vote in national elections on April 30. Speaker Jabouri expressed his intent to move quickly with Dr. Abadi to form an inclusive cabinet capable of confronting Iraq’s challenges, particularly the threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The Vice President also emphasized President Obama’s interest in working closely with Iraq’s next government to develop strategies to defeat ISIL and ensure that it can no longer pose a threat to the Iraqi people.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release

August 12, 2014

Readout of Vice President Biden's Call with Iraqi Kurdistan Regional President Masoud Barzani

Vice President Joe Biden called Iraqi Kurdistan Regional President Masoud Barzani to discuss recent political and military developments in Iraq. The Vice President discussed his and President Obama’s Monday calls with Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi, and encouraged President Barzani to work closely with Dr. Abadi as he works to build a diverse, inclusive government representative of all Iraqis. Vice President Biden also provided an update on the United States’ humanitarian assistance to refugees on Sinjar Mountain and the latest efforts by the U.S. military to help Iraq security forces counter the threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. President Barzani expressed his support for the appointment of Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi, and his willingness to work with Abadi and other leaders to bring Iraq’s different communities together to confront the nation’s political, economic, and security challenges. President Barzani thanked Vice President Biden for his call, and both leaders pledged to continue their regular communication.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

August 11, 2014

Readout of the Vice President’s Call with Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi

Vice President Joe Biden called Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi to congratulate him on his nomination to form a new government and develop a national program pursuant to Iraq’s constitutional process. The Prime Minister-designate expressed his intent to move expeditiously to form a broad-based, inclusive government capable of countering the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and building a better future for Iraqis from all communities. The Vice President relayed President Obama’s congratulations and restated his commitment to fully support a new and inclusive Iraqi government, particularly in its fight against ISIL. The two leaders also discussed practical steps towards fully activating the bilateral Strategic Framework Agreement in all of its fields, including economic, diplomatic, and security cooperation. Prime Minister-designate Abadi thanked Vice President Biden for the call, and they agreed to stay in regular communication as the government formation process proceeds.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release

August 11, 2014

Readout of the Vice President’s Call with Iraqi President Fuad Masum

Vice President Biden called Iraqi President Fuad Masum this morning to discuss the ongoing government formation process in Baghdad and to express the United States’ full support for his role as guarantor of the Iraqi Constitution. President Masum discussed with the Vice President the nomination of Hayder al-Abadi to be the next prime minister. The Vice President commended Masum for meeting this key milestone and reiterated President Obama’s repeated calls for the timely creation of a new, more inclusive government that will be able to address the legitimate concerns of all Iraqis. Vice President Biden also emphasized President Obama’s desire to boost coordination with a new Iraqi government and Iraqi Security Forces to roll back gains by the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant. President Masum thanked the Vice President for his continued support.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

August 09, 2014

Readout of the Vice President’s Call with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko

Vice President Joe Biden spoke today with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko about the situation in eastern Ukraine. The two leaders agreed that any Russian action in Ukraine, even for purported "humanitarian" purposes, without the formal, express consent and authorization of the Ukraine government would be unacceptable and a violation of international law. President Poroshenko informed the Vice President of his communication with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) regarding ICRC’s ongoing efforts to distribute multilateral humanitarian aid -- including assistance from the United States – to the vulnerable populations in eastern Ukraine. The two leaders agreed that if Russia were serious about improving the humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine, it had to immediately stop its shelling of Ukrainian troops and release Ukrainian hostages being held inside Russia, as well as cut its provision of weapons to Russian proxies operating in Ukraine. The Vice President and President Poroshenko reiterated that we continue to urge Russia to engage with the international community and the Ukrainian government to find a political solution to the crisis.