biden Archives

Is US VP Biden soliciting lobbying job from Turkey by calling PKK threat to turkey

January 23, 2016 by administrator

204477 U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday, January 23 said that the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) is a threat to Turkey like Islamic State, condemning the Kurdish militants as “a terror group plain and simple,” AFP reports.

“IS is not the only existential threat to the people of Turkey, the PKK is equally a threat and we are aware of that.. it is a terror group plain and simple and what they continue to do is absolutely outrageous,” Biden said after talks with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Istanbul.

Biden on Fridaystrongly criticized Turkey for failing to set the right “example” on freedom of expression, following the imprisonment of journalists and investigation of academics who criticized government policy, AFP reports.

“When the media are intimidated or imprisoned for critical reporting… and more than 1,000 academics are accused of treason simply by signing a petition, that’s not the kind of example that needs to be set,” Biden said at a meeting with civil society representatives in Istanbul.

Breaking News: US Vice President Joe Biden: Turkey must immediately withdraw from Iraq

December 16, 2015 by administrator

US Vice President Joe Biden

US Vice President Joe Biden, Iraqi city of Mosul in the press in the town near the Turkish troops ‘said a moment ago,’ you must withdraw from the region.

BBC Turkish organized by the ISID’s Başika According to the news, and four Turkish soldiers , including a total of 10 people were injured in the attack after Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar Biden spoke by phone with Al Abadi, he said that Turkish troops on Iraqi soil to enter without Baghdad’s consent.

In a statement from Biden’s office “Turkey and reducing tensions increase Iraq’s dialogue is now more important than ever. USA, respects Iraq’s territorial integrity. We expect the same from Turkey,” the statement said.

The statement on the response of Turkish troops in Baghdad after the dispatch of the Başika also reminded Turkey’s troops begin to withdraw, and made a call that should continue this retreat.

The Associated Press news agency, to tensions between Turkey and Iraq “was an unwelcome development for the US. Washington is trying to persuade Ankara to be more effective against Isidor” review progress.

Especially in Turkey’s sending troops to Iraq’s Shiite regions Başika heavily protested by Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi, he said that it would move the issue to the agenda of the United Nations.

Turkey, Başika leading association providing education to the soldiers of the Peshmerga forces meant that the tasks change.

Washington US Vice President Joseph Biden hosts prayer to commemorate #ArmenainGenocide victims

May 8, 2015 by administrator

United States Vice President Joseph Biden and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, joined President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, Catholicos Karekin II, and Catholicos Aram I, in a prayer service as part of the National Armenian Genocide centennial commemoration at the National Cathedral. Over two thousand Armenian Americans filled the iconic sanctuary in the solemn centennial anniversary of the first genocide of the twentieth century, Massis Post reports.

Guests and representatives of various faiths gathered for “The Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide: A Prayer for Justice and Peace” to remember those lost in the Genocide and to demonstrate gratitude for the regeneration of life for which the survivors and their saviors worked so hard.

The Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, welcomed attendees to the service and the Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, delivered the homily. The interfaith ceremony was led by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia.

Also in attendance were the descendants of saviors who contributed to the survival of thousands of Armenians a century ago. During the service, they were acknowledged and praised for their human compassion and selfless bravery.

“Worshippers of all faiths long for a world of tolerance and devoid of hate and violence,” said Noubar Afeyan, Chair of the NCAGC Steering Committee, who is himself the descendant of a Genocide survivor.

Reflecting on the day’s service, the Armenian President offered his perspective:

“It was truly an honor to address the congregation at the National Cathedral,” said President Sargsyan. “Today’s ecumenical prayer demonstrated a powerful call to unite this community in the spirit of gratitude, justice and peace.”

“It is important to recognize that we must work together to forge a more peaceful future. Genocide can happen anywhere, at any time; there is no generation, religion or ethnic group that is immune—history has shown this. What happened in 1915 to the Armenian people whether we call it tragedy for geopolitical reasons or massacres, it is genocide by its very intent and means, and genocide is a crime against humanity” emphasized His Holiness Aram I during the ceremony.

“We seek to inspire a change of spirit in people—an awakening of the heart that will influence future generations. The events in Washington are a testament to our strength, 100 years after the Genocide, as we join together to promote peace, honor those lost, and protect those at risk around the world no matter their race, religion or ethnicity,” said His Holiness Karekin II.

The service is part of a series of commemorative events planned by the NCAGC to mark the 100th anniversary of the Genocide. Upcoming events include a concert at the Strathmore featuring performances by renowned Armenian musicians May 8 at 8 p.m., a Divine Liturgy at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception May 9 at 10 a.m., a banquet dinner and awards ceremony at the Marriot Marquis May 9 at 5:30 p.m., and various other exhibitions and cultural events.

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Biden’s Apology to Erdogan Reinforces the US Policy of Succumbing to Turkey

October 6, 2014 by administrator

BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN

On Monday morning, news of ISIS militants’ advance on Kobane near the Turkey-Syria border flooded the media, with some citing eyewitness accounts that ISIS has planted its flag atop the hilly area, with the local Kurdish population fighting for its life and against the ISIS militants.

So where was the United States’ trusted ally Turkey in its pledge to help the so-called international effort led by the US to topple the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, which now goes by the name of Islamic State?

We can say one thing: The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was, most likely, gloating because a day before he had received an apology from Vice-President Biden, who told the truth by revealing Turkey’s—and Erodgan’s—role in the advancement of ISIS in the region.

While speaking to a group of students at Harvard, Biden discussed the US strategy/policy in the region and expressed that Erdogan had admitted Turkey’s errors in allowing militants to freely roam its border. This comment angered Erdogan, who demanded an apology from Biden and threatened that “he [Biden] will be history for me if he has indeed used such expressions.”

It seems that Biden’s friendship with Erdogan, also known as the US completely succumbing and kowtowing to Turkey, far outweighs the truth that Turkey, in fact, has played a large role in aiding ISIS and allowing its spread of deadly violence in Iraq and Turkey.

This fact was highlighted by former US Ambassador to Turkey Francis Riccardione who told the London-based The Telegraph last month that Turkey has directly supported al Qaeda’s Syrian wing in defiance of the US and has worked with other hard-line al Qaeda affiliates, effectively opening its borders to Syria and allowing free access to those rebels.

“The Turks frankly worked with groups for a period, including al Nusra, whom we finally designated as we’re not willing to work with,” Riccardione was quoted in The Telegraph explaining the US response to Turkey.

Turkey’s role in advancing the ISIS cause has also been widely reported and highlighted by the media in the US, including a front-page report last month by The New York Times.

“Turkey has been criticized at home and abroad for an open border policy in the early days of the Syrian uprising. Critics say that policy was crucial to the rise of ISIS,” reported the New York Times on September 16.

“Turkish fighters recruited by ISIS say they identify more with the extreme form of Islamist governance practiced by ISIS,” added the New York Times report.

President Obama has vowed to destroy ISIS and has appealed to countries in the region to join the coalition. Turkey has refused US access to its own airbase in Incirlik, the second time Turkey has blocked US efforts in the region, and now, true to Turkish form and despite Biden’s apology, Ankara wants guarantees from the US that the current mission in the region would conclude with Syrian President Bashar Assad’s demise before fully committing Turkey’s support for the mission.

The Obama Administrations complete and utter submission to Turkey has been well-documented, but Biden’s apology takes the cake since he was simply stating what everyone already knew: Turkey is responsible for the rise of ISIS and the current crisis in the Middle East.

Also on Monday, The Times (of London) reported that Turkey may have freed more than 100 ISIS jihadists in return for 49 Turkish hostages the militant group was holding since June after taking over the Iraqi city of Mosul. These newly-released ISIS militants are now free to bear arms and wreak more havoc in the region, all thanks to Turkey’s policy in the region, which run counter to US interests.

What Biden’s apology has done is to embolden Turkey to, on one hand, place more preconditions to the US for its involvement in the campaign and, on the other, to continue its support for ISIS and other extremist militants in the region. More importantly, however, Biden’s apology has weakened US foreign policy, its standing in the international community and strengthened the resolve of ISIS to continue its reign of terror in the region.

Bravo Vice-President Biden for your cowardice.