During his visit the Vice President had an opportunity to meet individually with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu. At these meetings, the Vice President and the leaders discussed a range of important bilateral issues:
- Fighting ISIL in Syria and Iraq
- Coping with the regional humanitarian crisis
- Countering the threat posed by foreign fighters
- Promoting the Cyprus settlement process
“And the one thing that is absolutely clear is that the depth of that friendship and the resolve of that partnership is as strong as it has ever been,” Vice President said after meeting with President Erdoğan. “In spite of the fact that the world is facing and we collectively are facing some difficult problems right now.”
The Vice President also addressed the Atlantic Council Economic and Energy Summit, where he discussed energy security challenges and our strategic vision of a Europe that’s whole, free, and at peace.
“True energy security in Europe is going to require some tough decisions,” the Vice President said before an audience of foreign leaders and business executives.
Before departing for the Washington on Sunday, the Vice President met with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to discuss religious freedom and interfaith dialogue.
Afterward, the Vice President and Dr. Biden toured the Süleymaniye Mosque, the largest in Istanbul.
