The White House
Office of the Vice President
Washington, DC – On Wednesday, August 20th, Vice President Biden will travel to East Hartford, Connecticut for an event on workforce development and skills. Additional details about the Vice President’s trip are forthcoming.
The White House
Office of the Vice President
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
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
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
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 Vice President
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 Vice President
Vice President Biden called Iraqi President Fuad Masum this afternoon to discuss United States military operations in northern Iraq and the ongoing government formation process in Baghdad. Vice President Biden reiterated President Obama’s commitment to assist and protect innocent Iraqi civilians trapped on Mount Sinjar and bolster Iraq’s ability to take the fight to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The Vice President emphasized the threat ISIL presented to all Iraqis and affirmed the U.S. commitment to support Iraq and all of its citizens – from north to south – as they work to defend the country against this international threat. President Masum updated the Vice President on Iraq’s government formation process. Vice President Biden emphasized the importance of a forming a new government on the constitutional timeline, including a national program that can help consolidate national forces against ISIL. President Masum thanked Vice President Biden for the continued support of the United States government.
The White House
Office of the Vice President
This afternoon, Vice President Biden called Iraqi Kurdistan Regional President Masoud Barzani to discuss the security situation in northern Iraq and the threat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) poses to innocent civilians. The Vice President offered his condolences for Kurdish losses suffered during ISIL’s advance. President Barzani updated the Vice President on the conditions facing Yezidi refugees stranded on Mount Sinjar and the disposition of Kurdish forces protecting Erbil. Vice President Biden relayed President Obama’s offer of humanitarian assistance for the Yezidis and reaffirmed his commitment to take whatever actions necessary to protect Americans in Erbil, including targeted airstrikes. President Barzani thanked Vice President Biden for America’s support.
The White House
Office of the Vice President
Vice President Joe Biden spoke today with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko about the situation in eastern Ukraine. President Poroshenko informed the Vice President about Russia’s direct involvement in the conflict as a result of incidents of ordnance fired at Ukrainian military forces from the Russian side of the border. The two leaders expressed concern with Russian statements suggesting a role for Russian “peacekeepers” in Ukraine, with Russia’s ongoing military buildup on Ukraine’s border, and with Russia’s continuing transfer of weapons to Russian proxies in Ukraine. President Poroshenko reaffirmed his commitment to avoiding civilian casualties and minimizing collateral damage while trying to restore law and order in eastern Ukraine. The two leaders also discussed the possibilities for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.
The White House
Office of the Vice President
This afternoon, Vice President Biden met with President Moncef Marzouki of Tunisia. The Vice President thanked the President for Tunisia’s assistance in relocating U.S. personnel from Libya and offered his condolences for Tunisian soldiers who died fighting terrorists on July 16th. The Vice President underscored the United States’ commitment to deepening security cooperation with Tunisia and supporting Tunisia as it conducts parliamentary and presidential elections in the coming months. Vice President Biden and President Marzouki agreed on the importance of a successful democratic transition in Tunisia, which would set an important precedent for the entire region.