Munich Conference on Security Policy

Biden urges Lavrov to put 'serious differences' aside

Agence France-PresseFebruary 2, 2013 22:30

US Vice President Joe Biden stressed the need for US-Russian cooperation, including over Syria, in a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday, the White House said. Biden, who met the Russian on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, said that while Washington and Moscow had "serious differences", such as over a Russian ban on US adoptions, US-Russian leadership was crucial.

Biden warns Iran: time for talk not unlimited

Agence France-PresseFebruary 1, 2013 05:46

US Vice President Joe Biden on Friday warned Iran that opportunities for diplomacy over its disputed nuclear programme were not unlimited, as he kicked off a three-country European tour. In an interview with the German Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily, Biden said the "burden of proof" that Iran was not seeking a nuclear weapon lay with the authorities in Tehran. "President (Barack) Obama has made clear that containment is not an option. We will prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon," Biden was quoted as saying in remarks published in German.