CSPAN - President Biden Meets With Cyprus President Aired: 2024-10-30 Duration: 05:56 [00:00:00] What goes on in the country? [00:00:02] I think this is one of the most important elections of our lifetime. [00:00:05] I know a lot of people say that about every election, but this election is vitally important as we have a lot at stake. [00:00:11] And I think it's important for everyone, no matter how young, no matter how old, to get out and vote and make a voice out of it. [00:00:17] C-SPAN's Voices 2024. [00:00:19] Be a part of the conversation. [00:00:26] C-SPAN is your unfiltered view of government. [00:00:29] We're funded by these television companies and more, including Mediacom. [00:00:34] Nearly 30 years ago, Mediacom was founded on a powerful idea. [00:00:38] Bring cutting-edge broadband to underserved communities. [00:00:42] From coast to coast, we connected 850,000 miles of fiber. [00:00:46] Our team broke speed barriers, delivered one gig speeds to every customer, has led the way in developing a 10G platform, and now with Mediacom Mobile, it's offering the fastest, most reliable network on the go. [00:00:58] Mediacom, decades of dedication, decades of delivery, decades ahead. [00:01:03] Mediacom supports C-SPAN as a public service, along with these other television providers, giving you a front-row seat to democracy. [00:01:15] President Biden met with President Nikos Fristadilitis of Cyprus at the White House. [00:01:20] Before their Oval Office meeting, the two spoke to the press on the war in Ukraine, energy security, and the war in Gaza. [00:01:29] Mr. President, welcome. [00:01:31] Welcome to the Oval Office. [00:01:32] Thank you very much, Mr. President. [00:01:33] Good to see you. [00:01:34] Good to see you. [00:01:35] It was 10 years ago when I visited Cyprus last as Vice President of the United States. [00:01:39] And as I said, there's no limit to what our nations can achieve if we work together. [00:01:45] I've been doing that for a long time. [00:01:47] But I think that's even more true today. [00:01:49] Today, we stood against Russia's vicious onslaught against Ukraine. [00:01:54] We launched a strategic dialogue to increase cooperation across a range of issues from energy security to artificial intelligence. [00:02:03] And we surged humanitarian aid, delivering 8,000 metric tons to Gaza. [00:02:09] So, Mr. President, Cyprus made all this possible. [00:02:11] I want to thank you for your leadership in making that happen. [00:02:14] And this year also marks the 50th anniversary of the artificial division of the island. [00:02:20] I remember it well. [00:02:21] It was my first year as U.S. Senator. [00:02:23] I remember sitting with Paul S. Anyway, it's a sad day. [00:02:28] But it was a sad occasion, but I remain optimistic about the possibility that you reunited Cyprus by zonal, bi-communal federation as possible. [00:02:40] And the United States stands ready to provide any support we can toward that goal. [00:02:46] Mr. President, thank you again for being here, and I look forward to our conversation today. [00:02:50] The floor is yours. [00:02:52] Mr. President, it's a great honor to be at the White House. [00:02:55] Thank you very much for your invitation. [00:02:58] As you very well know, our countries have built a truly strategic partnership and our relations, our relationships at a strategic and historical high. [00:03:13] At the bilateral level, we're working closely on defense and security, on energy, law enforcement, technology, innovation. [00:03:23] There is a top potential and there is a clear and strong political will from both countries, following also the first strategic dialogue that took place in Cyprus last week to further enhance our partnership. [00:03:38] Mr. President, at regional level, Cyprus is a predictable and reliable partner of the United States in a region of great geopolitical importance. [00:03:51] We are the member state of the European Union in the region. [00:03:54] We have excellent relations with all of our neighbors and we're working closely with the United States and other partners to face the current challenges, to send much-needed humanitarian assistance to Gaza to evacuate the country nationals from the region. [00:04:13] With regards to Ukraine, Cyprus stands on the right side of history. [00:04:20] And Mr. President, it couldn't be different, having in mind that my country is under Turkish occupation the last 50 years. [00:04:29] And Mr. President, I count on your support, on the support of the United States to resume negotiations and find a solution of the Cyprus problem, solution in line with the UN Security Council resolution, solution that is based on our common values and principles, democracy and respect of human rights. [00:04:52] So Mr. President, once again, thank you very much. [00:04:55] I'm looking forward to our discussions. [00:04:57] Thank you very much. [00:04:58] I'm looking forward to it as well. [00:04:59] You're a good friend. [00:05:00] Thanks. [00:05:00] Coming up live shortly here on C-SPAN, [00:05:28] Vice President Kamala Harris will be making a campaign stop in the Pennsylvania capital of Harrisburg. [00:05:33] As the second stop in her three-state campaign blitz today, You can catch live coverage of this event on the C-SPAN Now app or online at c-SPAN.org. [00:05:47] This election night, C-SPAN delivers something different. [00:05:50] Not just the presidential race, but the state races that will decide the balance of power in Congress.