French President Francois Hollande met with the US Vice President in Paris Monday as he recommitted to the joint European-American initiative to revive the dormant Middle East peace process.
In the first meeting with the returning Joe Biden following his November re-election to office alongside fellow Democrat President Barack Obama, Hollande stressed that recent developments from both the Palestinian and Israeli perspective made it an ideal time for the international community to act in the interests of peace in the region.
“Now that the elections in Israel are behind us, the Palestinian authorities are willing to commit themselves, we shall make sure that both the United States and Europe can support the revival of negotiations that can lead to a two-state solution,” he insisted in a joint press conference following a meeting of the two statesmen as part of Biden’s European tour last weekend, which commenced in Munich before moving on to Paris Sunday and then to London.
Likewise committing to the bilateral relationship with France, Biden neglected to mention the Middle East peace process, as he reiterated that “there’s not a single issue that affects us on the international -- in the international arena that does not -- where our interests do not intersect”, as he expressed hopes of further establishing “a very, very close relationship between our administrations”. Unsubstantiated White House reports have this week suggested that Obama will make his first visit to Israel this Spring, delivering on his campaign promise to travel to the Jewish State should he return to office. It is well documented that he has not met with officials in Israel since his previous 2008 campaign trail.
Returning the sentiment, Hollande confirmed that French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius is scheduled to meet with his newly appointed American counterpart John Kerry in Washington at an unspecified date, as he further added “there will be elsewhere many exchanges between myself and President Obama”.
Another key topic both leaders alluded to as having dominated their discussions was ongoing uncertainty over Iran’s increasing nuclear threat, with both the US and Europe seemingly losing patience with the Islamist regime over its apparent stalling techniques with regard to international diplomacy in recent weeks. Ahead of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton’s announcement of a resumption of abandoned peace talks with Iran in Kazakhstan on February 26 Tuesday, Hollande admitted that “notwithstanding all of the efforts, Iran is still rejecting transparency and compliance with its international obligations” as he alluded to an imminent resumption of talks during the course of which he vowed to “exert pressure for the negotiations to succeed”.
Paying tribute to France’s “strong stand” on the Iranian issue, Biden hinted at the increasing impatience of the US administration as he insisted that “this next phase which kicks in now, this month is -- must be followed through” with strong leadership from all relevant parties.
Whilst conceded to entertain further talks with the Iranian regime, he added that the US government was of the opinion “that there has been no real evidence of any movement thus far by the Iranians”.
In evidence of America’s recent efforts to reinvigorate its seemingly ailing relationship with Europe, the Vice President recommitted its faith in the Euro and its mechanisms, as he concluded that “the United States has a profound interest -- a profound interest in Europe’s success, in Europe securing the foundations of its monetary union. It’s overwhelmingly in our naked self-interest”.
Elsewhere on the European trail, following Biden’s meeting with Angela Merkel in Berlin, the German Chancellor confirmed the two had discussed the current state of the Middle East peace process, without going in to any further details.