The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
May 21, 2014

Remarks by vice President Joe Biden to Romanian Civil Society Groups and Students

Cotroceni Palace
Bucharest, Romania

2:45 P.M. (Local)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Mr. President, we may be listening to a future president.  I don't know.  (Laughter.)

I want to thank you, Mr. Prime Minister.  It was a pleasure having an opportunity to spend some time with you as well, and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, and the President of the Senate, and the Justice Minister, and to all the distinguished guests here, it’s a great honor to be in this magnificent venue and at such an important time in U.S.-Romanian relations.

Laura, thank you for the introduction, but more importantly, thank you for your continuing involvement.  As I -- the first time our paths crossed was five years ago, as you said, and look at you now, pursuing an advanced degree, an advocate for international education.  And you are a reflection of the progress your country has made and continues to make.

Mr. Prime Minister, judges, prosecutors, leaders of the parliament, thank you all for coming.  In America, for all those of you who are public officials, we call this a “busman’s holiday,” having to listen to another public official make a speech.  But I’m flattered that you are here.

And the fact that you’re here, I think, is a reflection of the common recognition that while there may be political differences, one thing that unites all Romanian leaders is a strong stand in favor of democracy under the rule of law without question and without any caveats.

I want to thank you all, but I particularly want to thank the civil society members here today for demanding greater freedoms, fairness and social justice, and maybe most importantly dignity for all the people of Romania. 

There is a great expectation I will say to those of you who are the younger members of the audience -- there’s a great expectation not only of the people of Romania but the people in Europe and the United States that nations who join the alliance, both in NATO as well as the EU have a shared value system.  It’s the value system that is the foundation of the Western alliance.  It’s what built the alliance in the first place.

And the most fundamental of these values is not a free market; it’s an open, free, and transparent society, where corruption is viewed as the enemy, where government is honest and accountable, and people are given a fair opportunity at success and all -- regardless of their station -- are treated with dignity.

As I said when I visited five years ago as I became Vice President, the story of freedom -- your society -- is one of the great achievements in modern European history.  I admire -- and I mean this sincerely -- I admire both the moral and physical courage so many Romanians demonstrated who put everything on the line, everything including their lives, to build this new, free, democratic society.

And I’m proud that America played a small part in helping you make that journey.  And as I told Romanian troops last night, when I met them as I got off of the aircraft, American troops are honored to stand shoulder to shoulder with Tricolor warriors as NATO allies in Afghanistan and other places we’ve stood together. 

And one other important point to make I’ve made to the President and the Prime Minister today in my separate meetings:  America’s commitment to the collective defense under Article 5 of the NATO Treaty is absolutely ironclad.  It’s a sacred commitment in the eyes of the President and myself.

As President Obama said, “NATO nations never stand alone.”  NATO nations never stand alone.  We protect one another.

And one of the most remarkable changes in this relationship from years past is we no longer discuss what America can do for Romania, we discuss what we can do together for one another.  Romania has made a remarkable journey from tyranny to freedom, from captive nation to NATO ally -- and it happened, it’s happened in the space of a single generation.

For you younger members of the audience, it was your parents’ generation.  And as one of America’s Founding Fathers said, his name was Thomas Jefferson, he observed that, “The generation which commences a revolution rarely completes it.”

Well, I’m here to tell you it’s your job to complete -- to complete it.  And when you do, your children’s generation will be eternally grateful because it will solidify for the remainder of this century the democracy your parents fought so hard to establish.

For any young democracy, the most difficult but important step is burying the legacy of tyranny and establishing an economy and a government and institutions that abide by the rule of law.  Every country faces challenges to the rule of law,
including my own.  And the choices each of our countries make matter immensely -- not only for our own country, but for our neighbors. 

In the 21st century, the countries that thrive will be the ones where citizens know their voices will be heard because the institutions are transparent.  Their efforts will be rewarded because there is a fairness in the court system; where businesses can compete without having to worry about paying bribes; where judges hand down verdicts free from political influence.

The European Commission recently found that corruption costs the European Union as a whole $160 billion, or 120 billion euros every single year.  That’s 1 percent of the total GDP of the entire European Union.

Corruption is a cancer, a cancer that eats away at a citizen’s faith in democracy, diminishes the instinct for innovation and creativity; already-tight national budgets, crowding out important national investments.  It wastes the talent of entire generations.  It scares away investments and jobs.  And most importantly it denies the people their dignity.  It saps the collective strength and resolve of a nation.  Corruption is just another form of tyranny.

And corruption can represent a clear and present danger not only to a nation’s economy, but to its very national security.  There are nations, and we’ve seen it recently, that exploit corruption to exercise malign influence and undermine the very sovereignty and independence of their neighbors.

In this way, corruption has become an instrument of foreign policy for some nations.  When politicians can be bought, when courts can be manipulated, when the media becomes a tool of propaganda, there you will find a society that is susceptible to manipulation from the outside.  There you’ll find a society that loses control of its own destiny -- not only its political security, but its physical security and military readiness is also compromised. 

We’ve recently seen that in Ukraine.  We saw how over a decade and a half of corruption, literally has hollowed out their military institutions and weakened that country’s very capacity to defend itself. 

So fighting corruption is more than just good government.  It’s self-defense.  It’s a guarantor of your national sovereignty.

Many of you, inside government and out, have been working to root out corruption for years.  And I applaud you all for your efforts.  With your help, Romania has made significant achievements in fighting corruption.  Your National Anti-Corruption Agency has firmly established its independence and sent 1,000 cases to court just since last year.  Your National Integrity Agency sent forward 6,000 cases of incompatibility -— people holding office that should be mutually exclusive -— and 50 cases of elected officials with unjustified assets. 

Of course there’s work to do to see these cases through, but it’s a significant start.   It’s no wonder that your anti-corruption institutions are the most highly rated institutions in Romania in the minds of the Romanian people.  You have heroes like the Supreme Court President fighting to protect the independence of judges to speak truth to power and render justice for all.  

Romanian citizens are getting directly involved as well, many of you in this audience.  From high school students learning in your classrooms not to pay bribes to avoid traffic tickets, to young professionals holding “check-a-thons” to demand honesty from politicians and hold them accountable.  I understand some of you may be here fact-checking my speech as well.  And that's good.    For corruption is a complex and difficult problem to solve in all countries, but it can be solved.

I strongly urge you to keep taking steps forward and keep resisting the instinct to step back.  Keep demanding that your judicial institutions remain free from political influence; keep insisting that no one -- no one -- no one is above the law. 

Now, some of you may argue this focus on transparency is a foreign invention that doesn’t apply to Romania.  But you know better.  Romanians have been fighting corruption for a long time.  I was recently told a story, an old story of Cuza, the founder of modern Romania, who as legend has it disguised himself as a peasant and went to the market.  He pretended to buy milk from a merchant who was cheating customers by using two different measuring cups.  The large one he showed to the customer, and the small one he used to actually measure out the milk they were purchasing.

The ruler revealed his identity, confronted the crooked merchant, and forced him to parade through the marketplace
with his two measuring cups held high where everybody could see them —- the real one and the fake one.  And no one bought from that merchant again. 

It’s a parable, but it says a lot about how modern day economic investors think about the global marketplace.  They want to do business where they’re treated fairly, and where there is transparency, where they know the real cup from the phony cup.

Of course no leader -— in Cuza’s time or in our own -— can hope to protect these principles alone.  I have worked on this issue around the world.  And I’ve seen how it’s done well and where it’s done poorly.  And I’ve learned that it takes fearless judges, brave police, and prosecutors working 14 hours a day to investigate complex crimes —- ignoring pressure and intimidation to ensure that justice is done.

It takes leaders in the business community who recognize that fighting corruption is good for everyone because it improves the business climate and generates economic growth.  It takes politicians who understand that government exists not for our purposes but to serve the people.   And it takes a free and independent press —- under no one’s thumb -— with the protections necessary to hold all of us who are leaders accountable.  And above all, it takes an active, passionate, vigilant engagement by every citizen, like all of you in this room.

Because as surely as a man cannot live without blood pumping through his veins, democracy cannot survive without the active participation of its citizens.  That’s what we mean when we say civil society is the lifeblood of democracy.  In a literal sense it is.  We count on civil society to shine a light on injustice; to give voice to minorities and marginalized groups; to demand checks on power.

And here in “Unity Hall,” we look to all of you to champion the dignity, the protections, the fundamental human rights of all people -- of women, of Roma, of Jews, of LGBT.  For they're all God’s children.  And they deserve to be treated equally and with respect.  

There’s always going to be cynics and doubters.  But I urge you to never forget that civil society has changed countries and the world before.  And it can do it again.  And this is an urgent time for all of Central and Eastern Europe for civil societies to be awakened.  As the saying goes, democracy is not a destination.  It’s a road traveled.  So long as you travel this road, you will never be alone.  You will have the United States and many other countries as your allies, your friend, your fellow free nations standing by your side because we face a different kind of threat today than we did even a year ago.  We face a different kind of threat that preys upon nations who are not just weak, but whose governments are not solid, sustained, free of corruption.

Your government is making great progress.  The people of Romania are making great progress.  And I’ll conclude by saying what I said to both your Prime Minister and your President, I cannot imagine a Europe whole, free and secure without a strong, united and independent Romania.  So it’s not only in your interest and the interest of your countrymen to deal in a way that delivers for your constituents and for your people, the stronger you are, the more independent you, the more capable you are, the better off we all are.  As I said, it’s not what America can do for Romania, it’s what we can do together for one another.

May God bless Romania.  May God bless America, and may God protect our Romanian and American troops who are still in harm’s way in Afghanistan.  Thank you all for the honor of being able to address you.

END
3:05 P.M. (Local)

Vice President Biden Speaks to Romanian Civil Society

July 09, 2014 | 19:43 | Public Domain

Vice President Joe Biden delivers remarks to civil society groups, students and political leaders at the Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest, Romania.

Download mp4 (1610MB)

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
May 21, 2014

Remarks by Vice President Joe Biden and Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta in a Joint Press Statement

Victoria Palace
Bucharest, Romania

1:10 P.M. (Local)

PRIME MINISTER PONTA:  (As interpreted) Good day.

We are very glad and honored to have the visit of Mr. Vice President Joe Biden here in Bucharest and at the headquarters of our government.

We are very happy to see you once again after the gathering that happened in October last year in Washington.  At that time, Vice President Biden said that he will come back to Romania, and as always he kept his word, and we’d like to thank him for that. 

But I believe that his visit here is at the most necessary and right time for Romania, a moment when we have to reaffirm the idea of a strategic partnership that is stable and of long term between the United States of America and Romania, and the importance and confidence that the United States grant to the entire region and all of our partners and allies from the area, and also a special feeling towards the Romanian people that it’s not just our desire to have this strategic partnership, but also the United States considers Romania to be a trustworthy partner and a respected partner.

So this is the most important formula, and the presence of Vice President Biden in Bucharest is confirming this fundamental idea.  I want to restate once again in the name of Romania our total commitment to meet the requirements in our role that we play as a country at the border of NATO and the European Union, of the democratic world which is at this time confronted with a crisis situation that is unprecedented in the past 25 years, the aggression on behalf of the Russian Federation, breaching the international norms, the illegal annexing of Romania [sic].  These are challenges that this region has not seen in a long time.

And furthermore the presence of Vice President Biden here is a strong message for Romania, but also a strong message for the other countries in the region, first of all for Moldova, the country for which Romania has a lot of good feelings, but also for Ukraine, for Georgia and all the others that have decided to take the route of democracy, the route of reforms, and abiding the international law.

I had discussions with Vice President Biden for the decision of the Romanian government to assume all the positions that involve our situation right now.  The security can never be obtained free.  The investments that the Romanian government has to increase and has already increased regarding the defense system -- and I can tell you that we have an agreement and a political consensus in that -- for that point in the sense that for a short time period up until 2016, Romania will start allocating 2 percent of the GDP for defense expenditures.  And also the investment that Romania has made in -- from budgetary resources and EU financing and private financing in order to develop a strategic concept and specifically energy independence.

Romania is investing quite a lot.  It is open for investments so that it -- Romania itself can ensure for itself and for the Moldovan Republic an energy independence that is even more important in the current crisis conditions, an independence that will allow us to ensure to the Romanian and Moldovan population, to the economy of both countries that Russia will never be able to impede the normal functioning of these countries by using its energy supply. 

The Romanian GDP increase, and I was happy to inform Vice President Biden of the situation that right now Romania is the economy that has the most rapid growth in the European Union.  This also grants the guarantee that we can be strong, that we can meet the tasks that we all have to meet here at the border of the NATO and EU, and we have an economic development later on that is even better.

In our discussion in October when I discussed with the state Secretary for Commerce, we had discussed an action plan that the Romanian government has already concluded, and it is implementing at this time in order to increase the investments of U.S. companies in encouraging commerce, in encouraging economic development and the collaboration between the two nations.

Furthermore than the bilateral collaboration, Romania is a very determined supporter of concluding the agreement that is known as T-TIP, the trade commerce agreement between the United States and the European Union.  We believe that at this time in the common trading area where we also have economic collaboration and democratic similar ideas can make us stronger in front of any challenges.

I would like to say in my conclusion that Romania must and can be an example of success in this region, an example of security -- military security, of political collaboration with the United States, of economic development, and of the economic and the democratic functioning of its institutions.  We have reaffirmed the government’s support for an independent justice system, an impartial justice system, an efficient justice system that will be able to apply truly that important principle of the fact that no one is above the law.  And whoever breaks the law no matter what his position is must answer in front of the court.

I would like to mention at this point that we have talked quite a lot about the Moldovan state.  Every time we have the opportunity to meet, I keep telling Mr. Vice President how important Moldova is for Romania, how important it is to support the United States, the European Union for this pro-European and pro-Romanian development of the Moldovan Republic.  And I want to thank for the support that the Washington administration is providing in an explicit manner, and they have assumed the fact that Romania and the Romanian people will be the beneficiary of what many other European citizens have, which is the visa waiver system.  All of the Romanians that go into the United States are contributing to what means the United States as a whole.

And I would like to say in my closing that I assured Vice President Biden that also in this year and the following years Romania will be for the United States a reliable and respected partner.

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: (In progress) hospitality, Mr. Prime Minister.  It’s good to see you again.  I appreciate your dedication to the U.S.-Romanian relationship, and I’ve enjoyed our chances to talk together both in Washington and here. 

The first thing the Prime Minister and I spoke about today was cooperation, security cooperation between the United States and Romania.  I reiterated to the Prime Minister what he already knew that -- America’s unwavering commitment to collective self-defense and Article 5.  We expect all nations to honor their NATO commitments.  We will honor ours.  And there should be no doubt about that on anyone’s mind.

We also spoke at some length about energy security and how national security and energy security come together in this part of the world in the need to ensure that Russia can no longer continue to use its energy resources and European dependence on those resources as a weapon -- a weapon against anyone in this region.

And that's why I believe that the development of a secure, diverse and interconnected energy market in Europe is the next big step for our European colleagues to initiate in a great project of European economic integration.

We are -- where our help is welcome, we are ready to provide help, and we have some little, unique expertise in this area if it is desired.

And Romania can and should be a significant part of a European energy solution.  By upgrading Romania’s infrastructure, Romania can be a lynchpin that holds together the energy markets from the Black Sea to Central and Eastern Europe.  And by expanding domestic production of natural gas, Romania can emerge as an alternative supplier for its neighbors.

And by extending the Romanian pipeline network, Romania can be part of the energy solution for Moldova, a country that is now overwhelmingly almost 100 percent reliant on Russian energy. 

Our countries stand together in supporting Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, its democratic development and its European aspirations.

The Prime Minister and I also spoke about steps we are taking to grow and deepen the economic partnership, including the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership that we’re in the process of negotiating.  Not only will it strengthen the vibrant economies of Europe and the United States and strengthen them all, but it also will set down new rules of the road that are necessary for the conduct to trade and commerce in the 21st century. 

And as I discussed with the President and the Prime Minister, there is no more important step Romania can take than to attract jobs and investment that can continue to help it grow but continue in the process to strengthen the rule of law in order to allow that to continue.

When other countries exploit corruption to undermine their neighbor’s sovereignty and independence, this is not only a matter of economic opportunity, but national security.  But it’s also a matter of economic competitiveness.  Where the rule of law is strong, where courts adjudicate disputes and in a transparently fair way, where the rules of the marketplace are predictable, this is where companies around the world invest.  This is where they make their homes.

I was encouraged by the Prime Minister’s agreement last October to take concrete steps to improve Romania’s business climate.  Of course, the follow-through is essential.  But it’s underway.  I applaud you, Mr. Prime Minister, for taking this initiative on such an important issue.

Romania to state the obvious is already a terrific ally, partner and friend.  And our future together is bright.  It’s no longer a matter of what it was a decade or more ago about what the United States can do for Romania.  It’s about what we can do together to strengthen each of our countries.

So, Mr. President [sic], thank you for your commitment to continue to strengthen this relationship, for your work to make our futures even brighter and may God bless the Romanian people.  May God bless America and may God protect our troops -- Romanian and American -- who are still deployed in Afghanistan.

Thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister.

END
1:23 P.M. (Local)

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
May 21, 2014

Remarks by vice President Joe Biden and Romanian President Traian Basescu in a Joint Press Statement

Cotroceni Palace
Bucharest, Romania

11:10 A.M. (Local)

PRESIDENT BASESCU: (As interpreted) Good afternoon.  Welcome to Cotroceni Palace.

Today we had a meeting, which is extremely important, with Mr. Vice President Joe Biden, a meeting in which we have discussed the main topics on our bilateral agenda and also on the regional agenda. 

I can say that after Romania joined NATO and the Europe Union, the strategic partnership for the 21st century that we have pinned down with the U.S. is the third major political achievement after the December revolution.  We welcome the firm commitment of the U.S. for the fifth article of the NATO Treaty.

We have also discussed about the need to consolidate the rule of law in Romania, the rule of law as a premise for progress further in achieving at the maximum level the strategic partnership we have with the U.S.

In our talks, I thanked Vice President Biden for the immediate reaction, the immediate response that the U.S. had when the conflict started in Ukraine and Crimea was illegally annexed.  The U.S. reacted by supplementing air forces, naval forces and land forces that are ready to participate in any kind of mission, particularly in a mission of discouraging Russia’s attitude, Russia’s desire to become again the USSR.  It is a reconfirmation and this time a proof to the fact that the United States of America are true to their word.

That's why the U.S. are so demanding in their relationship with Romania that we also should be true to our word and make the rule of law in Romania.

We have also discussed of the vulnerabilities created at the Black Sea, and also we have tackled the issue of the future summit of NATO.  A great weakness, vulnerability of the region, we analyzed it, and it means the energy dependence, the very high energy dependence on the Russian gas.

Last but not least, we have also reviewed the very strong rise in American investments in Romania, which created tens of thousands of jobs.  And I give an example to Mr. Vice President.  I have recently visited a large company, an American company, which is Lufkin, which opened a shop in Romania.  And the first pumps, oil pumps produced for the oil industry were actually meant for export to the U.S. 

Thank you so much.

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Well, thank you very much, Mr. President.  It’s a great pleasure to be back in Romania, particularly on such a beautiful day.  I’ve always enjoyed my visits here.

I want to thank you, Mr. President, for your candid and insightful advice, not just on this trip, but over the years, and for your commitment, as strong as it is to the transatlantic partnership. 

Every time I come to Romania, I’m impressed again at just how much progress you’ve made.  In a single generation your country has risen from tyranny to join the ranks of the world’s free nations, the European Union, and the most powerful alliance in human history, the NATO alliance.

2014 marks the 10-year anniversary since your admission to NATO.  As you’ll remember, in 1999, I tried to get you included in NATO.  If I had my way it would have been the 15th anniversary we’d be having.  But I tried to bring it about even sooner.  As a matter of fact, back in those days, Mr. President, then-President Clinton always used to kid me -- was the deal -- was I pushing so hard because I wanted NATO headquarters moved to my home constituency in Delaware.  (Laughter.) 

But I can say I had high hopes for Romania then as an ally, and every one of my hopes and expectations have been met.  And, Mr. President, thank you for proving me right about Romania’s entry into NATO.

Romanians have stood shoulder to shoulder with us in the Balkans, in Iraq and Afghanistan.  About 1,000 Tricolor troops continue to serve there -- all courage and no caveats on the battlefield; all courage, no caveats.  All in. 

And you’ve offered us a transit hub to help draw down our force in Afghanistan, and you’ve also embraced the post-2014 mission in Afghanistan; and just as you immediately embraced our phased adaptive approach to ballistic missile defenses five years ago when I came to visit with you.

And I want to reaffirm that we’re on track to open the missile defense site at Deveselu next year that will be opened.  And we encourage Romania and the leadership you begin in its efforts to bring its defense budget up to the 2 percent of GDP that NATO members have committed to.  Your supplemental funding, Mr. President, this year is a good step forward in Romania keeping that commitment to NATO.

And as we’ve talked often, Mr. President, both here in person and on the telephone, we in the United States -- the President and I -- we value our alliance with you.  It’s no longer just what we can do for Romania, it’s what we can do together.  And we’re doing a good deal together.

One of the main reasons why I came today is to stand on Romanian soil and say what cannot be said often enough.  We will honor -- we will honor Article 5 of the NATO Treaty.  It is a sacred obligation.  There should be no doubt about it.  It should not be in question.  No NATO ally stands alone.  We protect one another.  Period.  We protect one another.  Period.  End of discussion.

And, Mr. President, the aggression in Crimea, less than 250 miles from Romanian territory, reminds us of why we need NATO and why Romania belongs to NATO.

Today the President and I discussed the security of this region and the situation in Ukraine, as we have by telephone recently as well.  And we commend the Ukrainian government for the steps they have taken to ingrain -- engage Ukrainians from all parts of that country, including the east and the south on the issues of constitutional reform.  Sunday is election day in Ukraine, as it is here.  And it’s a chance for Ukrainians to decide their own future.

All countries in Europe, all countries should use their influence to promote a stable and positive environment so the Ukrainian citizens can cast their ballots freely. 

The President and I have agreed that if Russia undermines these elections on Sunday, we must remain resolute in imposing greater cost on Russia.  And we must be equally resolute in reinvesting in the NATO alliance. 

In that spirit, we spoke about the ongoing, urgent U.S. and NATO efforts to step up our military presence in Central and Eastern Europe in the air, on the ground, and at sea.  Romania is contributing to these efforts.

Last night, I visited when I landed the joint military exercises, Carpathian Spring, where Romanian and American troops are sharpening their skills and demonstrating our collective resolve.  We support the Supreme Allied Commander of Europe’s intention to finalize contingency plans for our Black Sea allies and do that at the Wales summit.  And we have assigned extra strategic planners to help NATO meet this goal when we assemble in Wales.

Of course, what’s at stake for Romania is more than its physical security.  It’s a chance for your people, Mr. President, to live lives defined by freedom, prosperity and dignity.  All three of those -- freedom, prosperity and dignity -- depend on equal treatment of citizens under the predictable rule of law.

In my travels over the years, and recently from Latin America to the Middle East to this very region of Europe, I’ve seen countries depose tyrants only to struggle to reclaim their future from the oligarchs and vested interests who remain after the tyrants have been deposed.  I’ve seen how countries that protect the rule of law and build strong institutions thrive, and those who do not do not.

As we saw in the Maidan, those who don't do these things tend to face instability.  They underperform in the global economy where jobs and investment can always go somewhere else.

This is also a matter of sovereignty and independence, and even national security, all of which are undermined when others use corruption to exercise influence in your society.  Corruption saps the collective strength and resolve of a nation.  It is merely another form of tyranny.  And fighting corruption is more than just about good government.  It’s patriotism plain and simple.

And, Mr. President, as I’ve told you on many occasions, that's why I and the President and the American people so appreciate your personal efforts to reinforce and protect the rule of law here in Romania and why it’s so important.  It’s important for your economy.  It’s important for your democracy.  And it’s important for your freedom.  And above all, it’s important for the lives of citizens who deserve to know their voices will be heard in government, that their businesses can compete fairly without bribes, that their disputes will be adjudicated transparently by a court system that is trusted, and that no Romanian -- any more than any American -- is above the law.

On so many fronts, Mr. President, there’s still important work ahead -- on trade, investment, energy security, all of which we discussed today and we’ll continue to discuss.  Mr. President, the state of our alliance is already strong in no small part because of your efforts over the years.

And I’m honored -- I’m honored to be able to make this visit and to make them even stronger.  The future should be ours -- freedom.  And, ladies and gentlemen, I want to personally tell the President I know his term will be up before mine.  I will miss him.  I will miss him.  And God bless Romania.  God bless America and may God protect our troops.

Thank you very much.

END
11:25 A.M. (Local)

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
May 21, 2014

FACT SHEET: Overview of NATO and Bilateral Reassurance Measures in Romania

As a result of Russia’s occupation and attempted annexation of Ukrainian territory, the United States has taken several immediate steps to demonstrate our continued commitment to Article 5 collective defense and reassure our NATO allies, including Romania, who are closest to the crisis.  The United States and NATO are committed to maintaining an augmented, persistent forward presence in Central and Eastern Europe through at least the end of 2014.

New U.S. Measures:

  • Maritime Deployments to the Black Sea: In early April, the United States deployed the USS Donald Cook to the Black Sea where the Cook conducted operations to improve interoperability, increase readiness, and develop professional relationships with Allies.  The Cook conducted presence operations and a port visit in Constanta, Romania, as well as a passing exercise (PASSEX) with the Romanian Navy.
  • In late April, the USS Taylor, a frigate and our contribution to the Standing NATO Maritime Group, was deployed to the Black Sea where Taylor conducted bilateral operations with Romania and Georgia, including port visits to both countries.
  • The USS Vella Gulf will soon enter the Black Sea to conduct port visits and combined maritime training with Allied naval forces.
  • Air-to-Air Refueling Missions: Since mid-March, the United States has been flying refueling missions in support of NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) flights over Poland and Romania.
  • NATO Response Force (NRF): The Department of Defense is exploring options for increasing the readiness of its U.S.-based, NRF-committed Brigade Combat Team.

Enhancements to Previously Planned U.S. Operations:

  • USS Truxtun: The USS Truxtun entered the Black Sea through the Turkish Straits on March 7 to conduct a port call in Constanta, Romania and a PASSEX with Romanian and Bulgarian naval forces.  Truxtun extended its stay in the Black Sea until March 21 to conduct a port visit in Varna, Bulgaria, hold an onboard maritime planning conference with Bulgarian and Romanian officers, and conduct a second PASSEX.

U.S. Ongoing/Steady State Measures:

  • There are approximately 1,000 U.S. troops in Romania, including Marines, sailors, airmen and soldiers.
    • Black Sea Rotational Forces (BSRF): This force, based out of Mihail Kogalniceanu (MK) Air Base, Romania, includes 250 Marines and sailors tasked with maintaining positive relations with partner nations; enhancing regional stability; and increasing interoperability while providing the capability for rapid crisis response in the Black Sea, Balkan, and Caucasus regions.  In May, BSRF personnel are participating in exercise PLATINUM LYNX; infantry field training with the Romanian military to enhance familiarity and interoperability between U.S. and Romanian forces.
    • Nearly 500 of these U.S. troops are permanently stationed at MK Air Base conducting transit center operations.  
    • 175 U.S. Marines will be temporarily based out of MK Air Base as part of the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF).  The SPMAGTF is postured to respond to a broad range of military operations in the EUCOM/AFRICOM region, including:  fixed-site security, non-combatant evacuation operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel, theater security cooperation, and other missions as directed. 
    • Currently, more than 80 U.S. Airmen are currently participating in Exercise Carpathian Spring in Romania.  The exercise runs from April 12th to 21st and is designed for aircrew to receive upgrade training and build partnership capacity with the Romanians.  
  • European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA):  The United States’ contribution to European missile defense includes plans for four Aegis destroyers to be home ported in Rota, Spain (USS Cook recently arrived) and two planned Aegis Ashore sites; one in Romania (2015) and one Poland (2018).  The Romania Aegis Ashore site is critical to NATO missile defense and is the fundamental infrastructure for Phase 2 of the EPAA.  It will consist of a radar with 360-degree coverage, vertical launch tubes with SM-3 Block IB missile defense interceptors, and the associated command and control systems to integrate the radar and the interceptors.  The interceptors could be launched from the site in Romania to defend NATO in the case of a missile attack from the Middle East.   The groundbreaking at the Romania site was completed in 2013, and the site is firmly on budget and on schedule to be operational by the end of 2015. 
  • U.S. Force Presence in Europe:  There are approximately 67,000 service members in Europe.  Approximately 57,000 active duty service members are assigned to U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and approximately 10,000 support other organizations, such as U.S. Africa Command. 
  • NATO Response Force (NRF) Commitment:  The United States previously pledged several thousand service members to the NATO Response Force including a brigade combat team from the Texas-based 1st Cavalry Division, a hospital ship, air-to-air refueling tankers, and escort ships.
  • Army Rotational Forces:  The United States will send a battalion-sized unit from the United States to Europe twice a year for up to two months per rotation.  In May, the unit will participate in a USEUCOM-hosted multinational exercise, COMBINED RESOLVE II.  The exercise, which includes Romanian participation, will take place in Germany.

Watch: The Bidens Touch Down in Bucharest

Stephen Spector
May 20, 2014
02:22 PM EST

Today, the Vice President and Dr. Biden arrived in Bucharest, Romania – the first stop on their three-day trip to Romania and Cyprus.

Upon arriving, the Vice President visited Otopeni Airbase to receive a tour of the military exercise “Carpathian Spring” and greet joint U.S. and Romanian participants. While there, he underscored the United States’ ironclad commitment to the collective defense of NATO under Article 5, and expressed appreciation for Romania’s contributions to regional and global security. He also discussed the international community’s response to Russia’s illegal military intervention and destabilizing actions in Ukraine.

Watch the highlights of the Vice President and Dr. Biden's visit below:

Watch on YouTube

Stephen Spector is the Assistant Press Secretary in the Office of the Vice President.
Related Topics: Foreign Policy

On Board: Travels with the Vice President in Romania, "Carpathian Spring"

July 09, 2014 | 1:49 | Public Domain

Go on board with the Vice President in Romania as he tours the military exercise "Carpathian Spring", greets the joint U.S. and Romanian participants and speaks on the international community's response to Russia's illegal military intervention and destabilzing actions in Ukraine underscoring the United States' ironclad commitment to the collective defense of NATO under Article 5 while expressing appreciation for Romania's contributions to regional and global security. http://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov

Download mp4 (77.1MB)

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
May 20, 2014

Remarks by Vice President Joe Biden to Joint United States and Romanian Participants in Carpathian Spring Military Exercise

Otopeni Military Airbase
Bucharest, Romania

3:31 P.M. (Local)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Let me begin by saying, Mr. Minister, thank you, and it’s very hot in here.  I was supposed to -- I was told it was going to be cooler here, but thank you for the great weather.

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s an honor to have a chance to see our militaries work together in this Carpathian Spring Joint Military Exercise.  The last time I saw you working together was in Afghanistan.  And it is -- it’s a great benefit to both of us that we are side by side.  It’s my pleasure to take a moment to recognize all that you do to keep the people safe and strong in our alliance. 

Over the past 25 years I’ve come to know and appreciate this beautiful country.  I’ve been here many, many times.  I’ve met I think with just about every one of your leaders.  I’ve watched you make the journey from tyranny to freedom.  I even advocated for Romania’s early entry into NATO when I was a United States senator. 

Even so I’m not sure I understood the full extent of the moral and physical courage of the Romanian people when we began this effort until I heard about you from American troops on the front lines.  They told me that Romanian soldiers were warriors.  They were capable, and they were brave.  I think our fellow men and women here in American uniforms would agree that we are very proud -- very proud -- to serve with Romanian forces. 

So above all I’m here to say thank you to the Romanian men and women who serve to keep us safe, to the families who wait for them at home.  My wife, Jill, and I understand what it’s like to wait.  Our son spent a year in Iraq.  And so your families, we owe you as well. 

And I especially want to pay tribute to the 26 Romanians who gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the 143 who were wounded.  We owe them and their loved ones a debt of gratitude that we will never be able to repay.

In Romania, American forces have found a devoted NATO ally.  I never doubted that for a moment as the effort to admit Romania into NATO was underway, serious and steadfast partner that you’ve been from day one.  About a thousand Romanians remain in Afghanistan -- four serving without caveats, fully in the fight, alongside our women and men.  And I’m pleased that you will continue to support the post-2014 mission in Afghanistan.

Romania today is hosting U.S. Marines at the M-K Airbase, which also supports logistical operations for Afghanistan.  You’re building a fleet of F-16s.  Romania is working to bring its defense budget up to 2 percent of GDP, as all NATO allies should and must.

To the Americans here today, let me say that I believe you are the greatest generation of warriors the world has ever produced.  And that is not hyperbole.  You represent a generation of Americans equal to any that has ever gone before you.  I’ve seen you in Bosnia and Kosovo, Baghdad and Basra, Fallujah and Ramadi, Kabul and Kandahar.  I’ve even seen you in those FOBs up in the Kunar Valley.  You’re an incredible group of warriors. 

You and your family are part of an unbroken chain of patriots who’ve stood guard since World War II over freedom’s frontier, right here in Europe.  I could not be more proud of all of you.

We too care deeply about the alliance, Mr. Minister.  America’s commitment to collective defense under Article 5 of NATO is a sacred obligation in our view -- a sacred obligation not just for now, but for all time.  So I’m here to say on behalf of the President what I hope you already know:  You can count on us.  Period.  We do what we say, and we mean what we say.

Today aggression in Crimea, less than 250 miles from Romanian territory, from NATO’s borders reminds us why we need NATO and why Romania belongs to NATO.  What Russia has done violates not just Ukraine’s sovereignty, but a fundamental principle we fought for in the 20th century and thought we had clearly established.  Europe’s borders should never again be changed at the point of a gun, which is why we continue to condemn -- condemn -- Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea. 

So long as Russia’s efforts to destabilize Ukraine continues we must remain resolute in imposing greater costs on Russia, imposing those costs together.  But our strategy is about more than just imposing cost.  It’s fundamentally about investing in a revitalized NATO that emerges from this crisis and works toward a successful summit in Wales, stronger and more united.  America and our NATO allies have urgently stepped up our military presence in the air, land and on the sea of NATO’s eastern flank.  In just the past weeks we’ve had ships visit.  The USS Truxton, Cook, Taylor, as well as the Dacian Viper F-16 exercise.  And in the coming days, new ships -- the Vella Gulf will enter the Black Sea to conduct port visits and maritime training.  Period. 

Since mid March the U.S. has been flying refueling missions over Poland and Romania in support of NATO’s AWACs.  And we are on track to open up a missile defense site at Deveselu, next year.  We support the Supreme Allied Commander of Europe’s intention to finalize contingency plans for the Black Sea allies by the Wales summit.  And we have -- we have assigned extra strategic planners to help NATO meet that goal.  As President Obama said, “NATO nations never stand alone.”  NATO nations never stand alone. 

I want to thank our Romanian colleagues for standing with us, alongside us, emboldening us, making us stronger.  And I thank each and every one of the American troops for their continued patriotic service.  Each and every one of you is doing your countries a great service.

May God bless Romania, may God bless America, and may God protect our troops.  Thank you for your service.  (Applause.)

END
3:39

Being Biden Vol. 15: Coffee

Ezra Mechaber
Ezra Mechaber
May 19, 2014
05:33 PM EST

What does a cup of coffee mean? For Vice President Biden and Officer Peter Laboy of the Alexandria Police Department, quite a bit.

After Officer Laboy was injured in the line of duty last year, Vice President Biden visited him in the hospital and brought coffee for his unit. Last week, Officer Laboy returned the favor -- bringing the Vice President a cup of coffee here at the White House.

As the Vice President says in this edition of Being Biden, Officer Peter Laboy represents the tens of thousands of police officers across the country who put their lives on the line for Americans every single day, "So, the next time you're drinking a cup of coffee think of them."

Hear the story in Vice President Biden's own words:

Related Topics:

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
May 19, 2014

Background Press Briefing by Senior Administration Officials on the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden's Trip to Romania and Cyprus

Via Teleconference

9:18 A.M. EDT

MS. TROTTER:  Good morning, everyone.  Thanks for joining.  This conference call is to discuss the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden’s trip this week to Romania and Cyprus.  The call is on background, and all of our speakers should be referred to as senior administration officials.  They’ll speak for a few minutes now and then take some questions.

And with that I will turn it over to our first speaker.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Thanks, everybody, for joining the call.  I’ll start by giving some context for this trip and then walk through the schedule as it stands today, and then would be happy to take some of your questions.

Vice President Biden’s and Dr. Biden’s upcoming trip to Bucharest and Nicosia is first and foremost about strengthening our bilateral ties with two key European partners and about consulting with them on the latest regional developments, including the continuing challenges presented by Russia’s destabilizing actions in Ukraine.

This will build on the Vice President’s engagement with the leaders of both countries.  He met with President Anastasiades in the fall.  He met with Prime Minister Ponta here in Washington in the fall.  He’s had numerous call President Basescu and Prime Minister Ponta as well as President Anastasiades over the last several months to touch base on regional developments and bilateral relations.

And this also grows out of the Vice President’s broader engagement across the region and follows on his trips to Poland, the Baltics and Kyiv over the last couple of months.  He is making these trips, these calls, taking these meetings all as a way of showing the United States’ continuing solidarity and growing partnership with all of our European partners at a complicated and challenging time in Europe.

In terms of Romania, Romania is a strategic partner, a valued ally and a long-time friend to the United States, a friend that now finds itself in a tougher neighborhood.  So as he and the President have done with other European allies, the Vice President’s main message will be one of reassurance.  He will underscore that no one should doubt the United States’ commitment to Article 5.  He will highlight some of the steps we’ve taken to reinforce our presence throughout Central and Eastern Europe.  And in that regard, he’ll have the chance to see an American presence with his own eyes when he visits with Romanian and American troops who are involved in a joint training exercise in Romania.

But it will also be an opportunity for the Vice President to discuss with Romania’s leadership their ideas on how Romania can play a pivotal role in European energy security, contributing to a diversification of supply and helping to reduce Russia’s capacity to wield energy as a weapon against its neighbors.

Finally, the Vice President will want to focus on ways that the United States and Romania can work together to grow our economies through greater trade and investment.  And obviously in order to do that, there will need to be strong rule of law and continuing efforts against corruption, a point that he will underscore in all of his engagements there.

The Republic of Cyprus is a newer, but also strong strategic partner.  And as many of you on the call know, there is real historical significance to this visit.  Vice President Biden will be the first sitting Vice President to visit Cyprus since Lyndon Johnson in 1962, and the most senior American official to visit Cyprus since that time.

We believe that Cyprus can play a pivotal role in regional peace and security throughout the Eastern Mediterranean.  The government of President Anastasiades, which has been in power for just over a year, has reoriented the country to promote core European and transatlantic priorities in the Eastern Mediterranean, something that we have welcomed. 

The Vice President’s visit to Nicosia is part of an effort to continue to cultivate our growing bilateral partnership, which includes cooperation to remove chemical weapons from Syria, nonproliferation, nuclear nonproliferation, counterterrorism and crisis response. 

The economic crisis of March 2013 which forced Cyprus to seek a bailout from the troika continues to take its toll, and the government is continuing to take steps to rise to the challenges that it is presented.  Meanwhile, the discovery of hydrocarbons in the Cypriot EEZ could position Cyprus, we believe, as an energy and economic leader in the region.

The Vice President is going to Cyprus at a time of renewed hope and energy in the two communities as they work toward the comprehensive settlement to reunify the island as a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.  Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots signed a joint declaration on February 11th in which the sides expressed their determination to resume settlement talks in a results-oriented manner, and they aim to reach a settlement as soon as possible.  We’ve seen productive cross-visits of the negotiators to Ankara and to Athens, and we’ve seen several restorations in religious services that have helped increase cross-communal engagement.  At the same time, the two sides have begun the second more substantive phase of negotiations, something that got underway on May 6th. 

So over the course of his visit the Vice President will see the leaders of the two communities, as well as political, civil society and religious leaders who will play varying roles in this process, and members of the U.N. team that orchestrates the current talks process.  We're not coming to impose solutions or to pressure the two sides.  This is about hearing Cypriot ideas for what a solution could look like.  The Vice President will offer continued U.S. assistance as long as the sides find it useful.

Just to walk through the schedule -- in Bucharest, when the Vice President arrives, he will move right over to Otopeni Military Airport where Romanian defense officials and the base commander will introduce him to Romanian and American air crews who are exercising together.  The exercise, known as Carpathian Spring, is a joint training exercise involving U.S. airmen out of Ramstein Airbase.

The Vice President will express his gratitude to the Romanian military for their strong support in Afghanistan and Iraq and really across the full range of our military and defense cooperation.  And he'll underscore that we simply could not ask for better allies, 10 years as a NATO partner.

The following day, the Vice President will meet separately with both the President and the Prime Minister foremost to reassure them of the United States’ unwavering commitment to our Article 5 guarantee.  He'll also want to consult with both leaders on how we can continue to closely coordinate our response to destabilizing Russian actions in Ukraine.

The Vice President will end his visit to Bucharest by spending some time giving remarks to a gathering of students and young activists as well as government officials on the importance of continuing Romania’s efforts to develop its democracy, fight corruption, and strengthen the rule of law.  We believe that Romania can be a model for the region and this will really depend on the energy of the new generation of leaders emerging in Romania right now.

In Cyprus, the Vice President will arrive in Larnaca on the evening of Wednesday, May 21st.  He'll be met at the airport by Foreign Minister Kasoulides and will deliver remarks upon arrival, and those remarks will emphasize and focus on the strong bilateral partnership between the United States and the Republic of Cyprus under the leadership of President Anastasiades. 

The following morning, the Vice President will proceed to the Greek Orthodox Archbishopric, where he’ll meet with the leaders of various faith communities in Cyprus, including His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos; His Excellency Dr. Talip Atalay, the Mufti of Cyprus; His Excellency Dr. Youssef Soueif, Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus; His Excellency Varoujan Herkelian, Armenian Archbishop of Cyprus; and Father Mariuaz Dulniok, the Latin parish priest in Cyprus,

The Vice President sees interfaith cooperation and dialogue by religious leaders as a positive example of the kind of trust, reconciliation and respect that can be built across divides.  And he will speak with these leaders in a roundtable format.

From there, the Vice President will proceed to the Presidential Palace for a bilateral meeting with President Anastasiades.  In the meeting, we expect the two leaders to discuss ways we can strengthen our bilateral cooperation to bolster regional security and prosperity.  He'll recognize Cyprus for its regional leadership in supporting the mission to eliminate chemical weapons from Syria.  He'll discuss the transatlantic community’s response to Russia’s illegal intervention and destabilizing actions in Ukraine.  And of course, they’ll also discuss the settlement negotiations process.

After the bilat, they will have an official lunch at the palace, joined by members of the cabinet and party leaders, and participants at that lunch will include former presidents, former speakers of the house, and other politicians. 

There will then be a brief stop at the embassy, where the Vice President will honor the memory of Ambassador Rodger Davies and local employee Antoinette “Toni” Varnavas.  Ambassador Davies and Tony were shot and killed on August 19, 1974, and this August marks the 40th anniversary of the tragedy and will be commemorated by the embassy with a memorial ceremony to rename the Ambassador’s residence the Davies House and the embassy’s community lounge the Varnavas Lounge.  That memorial ceremony will take place in August, but the Vice President will have the chance to lay a wreath on his visit later this week.

Later in the afternoon, the Vice President will travel to the Buffer Zone, which is run and maintained by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, and there he'll greet and give brief remarks to a gathering of leaders in business, politics and civil society from both communities.  He'll be able to discuss with the civic leaders the critical role that they can play in the process of creating a vision for the future of Cyprus following the settlement and supporting the leaders and negotiators during the settlement process.

Some of the details of our schedule are still being finalized, including plans for the Vice President to see the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Mr. Eroğlu, as well as other Turkish Cypriot party leaders from across the political spectrum, and from the U.N. Good Offices Mission.  We believe these will be useful opportunities for the Vice President to hear Cypriot ideas on how they hope to shape their future, as well as to hear the views of the leaders and negotiators about how the current political environment and public perceptions are influencing settlement talks. 

As for Dr. Biden, in Bucharest she’ll accompany Mrs. Maria Basescu, the First Lady, to the Dimitrie Gusti National Village. She will also visit a Romanian NGO that works with victims of trafficking in persons.   

In Cyprus, she will join the First Lady of Cyprus, Andreana Anastasiades, to visit Lefkara, and she and Mrs. Anastasiades will also visit Old Town Nicosia and the U.N. Buffer Zone.  The U.N. Head of Mission, Lisa Bettenheim, will provide a tour there.

I'm sorry to go on for so long.  I just wanted to make sure that we fully made out what the context and the elements of this visit.  And I'd be happy to take your questions.

Q    Hi, this is CBS News.  As the Vice President takes off on this trip and these talks on what you just described as “Russia’s destabilizing actions,” I’m wondering what your take is on the announcement from Moscow that President Putin has ordered troops deployed near Ukraine to return to their home bases.  Does the U.S. see any sign that this is really happening?  And what do you make of the timing of this announcement coming just as the Vice President travels to the neighborhood?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Let me start by saying that the fact is that Russia has been maintaining significant forces in forward deployment areas along Ukraine’s border.  They have not been conducting routine training activities.  They’ve been up on the border in a menacing posture.  And we’ve been concerned about this military buildup and have been consistently calling for Russia to remove its troops back to their home bases and end this threatening behavior.

We’ve seen what President Putin has said, and if Russia conducts a transparent and meaningful withdrawal of forces back to their home bases, we’d welcome it.  But to date, we haven’t seen evidence of them doing so.  I haven’t seen the latest this morning, whether they’d begun to move, although we’ve heard from Russian leaders in the past that they were removing troops from the border and they haven’t done so.  As you’ll recall, they’ve made similar claims before.  They made them at the end of March and didn’t follow through.  So we’ll be tracking this closely over the course of today and the coming days, and we’ll want to see clear, firm evidence of this move before we make any judgment. 

Q    Hello, this Politico.  I’m wondering if the issue of Romania’s status as a haven for cyber criminals is going to come up when the Vice President visits?  And is it his sense that cybercrime in Romania represents a lack of will on the part of the Romanian government to get it under toe; or lacks capacity to do that?  And how Romania may possibly cooperate with federal prosecutors going forward on cybercrime?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  The challenge of cybercrime is something that we are consulting with all of our European partners on, because we view it as a growing challenge both to governments and businesses in the region, in the United States.  This is something we take very seriously, so we expect it will be one of the issues that is addressed in his meetings. 

Our view is that this is something we’ve had a deep dialogue with the Romanians on over time.  That’s a dialogue that will continue both in law enforcement channels and at the diplomatic level.  And we believe that over time, working together both bilaterally and multilaterally, the United States and Romania can make progress against what has become an increasingly acute challenge to governments and to people around the world. 

Q    Hi, this is AFP.  A lot of Russian money and investment flows through Cyprus, and the government has already raised concerns that if there were to be sectoral sanctions on the Russian economy, it could really hammer the Cypriot economy.  How much of the Vice President’s trip to Cyprus is going to be dwelling on this issue?  And if sanctions were to go ahead without Cyprus, how would that sort of weaken the sanctions regime?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  We have had a close consultation with the Cypriot government about the issue of sanctions.  And the Vice President has personally engaged with President Anastasiades on this subject.  Cyprus has supported the European Union in imposing costs on Russia for its illegal intervention and occupation of Crimea, and for its continued destabilizing actions in the east.  It has been part of the EU consensus in imposing the sanctions that the EU has imposed so far.

The EU has also made clear in its most recent Foreign Affairs Council meeting that continuing destabilizing actions by Russia will lead to further sanctions, and that sectoral sanctions remain on the table.  And Cyprus was part of the decision making that produced that outcome from the Foreign Affairs Council.  This will be an important topic of conversation in the Vice President’s meetings with President Anastasiades.  He will want to be able to consult about what costs will be imposed should Russia continue to take steps to destabilize the situation in Ukraine.

Obviously, we are aware of and understanding of the exposure of Cyprus to Russian economic activity and Russian economic pressure.  But we believe that a sanctions regime can continue to be enforced and frankly bolstered -- if it comes to that -- that will impose costs on Russia without imposing unnecessary costs on Cyprus.  The Vice President will have the chance to speak in very detailed terms with President Anastasiades about that subject, and that is one of the purposes of this visit.

Q    Hi, I am a Russian reporter here in Washington, D.C.  Basically I have the same question.  A follow-up to that is Cyprus has publicly called for each individual country to be free to impose or not impose their own sanctions, rather than doing this collectively.  Would that be acceptable to the United States?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  We have welcomed the actions that the European Union has taken to impose costs for the destabilizing and provocative and in many instances illegal actions that the Russian government has taken in Ukraine.  And we’ve also supported the EU’s clear statements about the upcoming election on May 25th.  We believe that the EU speaking with one voice is an important element of an overall effort to make sure that Ukraine is ultimately free to make its own decisions about its future.

So far Cyprus has been part of a consensus that has produced the sanctions that are currently on the books and that have laid out the potential increase in costs on Russia should Russia continue doing some of the things that it’s doing.  We think that's the right approach.

And we’ve been gratified to see Cyprus’s constructive role in supporting the overall consensus, and the Vice President will look forward to discussing with President Anastasiades the ways in which the EU as a collective community can continue to support this overall effort in partnership with the United States.

Q    Thank you.  I have two quick questions.  One is that I am puzzled that you still have not scheduled a meeting with the Turkish Cyprus leaders, even though we know it has been for a while that Vice President’s visit schedule.  Can you tell us why?  Is there a communication problem?  Or you didn't get the response? 

And my second question is what can you tell us will be Ankara’s role at this visit?  Have you been communicating Turkish leaders here, all this visit?  And what do you expect from Ankara on this specifically?  Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Thank you.  As I said, some of the details of our schedule are still being finalized, including plans for the Vice President to see the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Mr. Eroğlu, as well as other Turkish Cypriot party leaders from across the political spectrum.  The Vice President intends to see Mr. Eroğlu to discuss with him how we can all work together -- the Turkish Cypriot community, the Greek Cypriot community and the international community in support of them to work towards a settlement. 

So that will be part of the Vice President’s visit, and this is a matter of working out some detail.  We will have more information over the next hours and days as every aspect of the schedule gets finalized.

With respect to Turkey, the United States believes that every country in the region and Turkey and Greece being very important players should be supporting a settlement that leads to a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, and a better future for all of the -- for both communities in Cyprus.  And we’ve been pleased to see the role of Turkey in the cross-visits that took place that were very productive, and our understanding is that Turkey will continue to work to play a constructive role in these efforts as we go forward. 

And in that regard, yes, we are obviously consulting with people in the government of Turkey, just as we do with people in the government of Greece and with leaders in both communities in Cyprus, and we expect that those consultations will continue as we move forward.

MS. TROTTER:  All right, thanks, everyone, for joining this morning.  And we will have more information about the Vice President and Dr. Biden’s schedule in the next day or two.  Thank you very much.

END
9:42 A.M. EDT