Readout of Vice President Biden's Meeting with Amir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani of Qatar

The Vice President held a breakfast meeting with Amir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani of Qatar to discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues.  The Vice President affirmed the importance of the United States’ strategic cooperation with Qatar in a changing Middle East.  They discussed how best to advance U.S. and Qatari efforts in Syria to hasten Bashar Assad’s departure while also empowering moderate elements of Syria’s opposition and marginalizing extremists.  They spoke about ongoing U.S. and Arab efforts to support Israeli and Palestinian progress toward peace.  The Vice President underscored both the enduring U.S. commitment to peacemaking and the pivotal role of Arab nations in the process.