On April 25, 2019 former U.S. Vice President, member of the Democratic Party Joe Biden officially announced he would run for president in 2020.

In this edition of “Key” Mediamax tells about the contacts Biden has with Armenia and the region in recent years. 

1. How is Armen Sarkissian involved? 

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian unintentionally made global news in February of 2019.

He had a brief friendly conversation with Biden on the margins of the Munich Security Conference, during which Sarkissian asked is Biden was going to run for president.

Although the former Vice President did not give a concrete answer at that time, mainstream media concluded that he would indeed run for president.

2. Which event, dedicated to the victims of Armenian Genocide, did Joe Biden attend? 

On May 7, 2015 Washington National Cathedral held a prayer service commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The event was attended by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power.

3. How did Aliyev respond to Biden’s call? 

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan was visiting the United States in early April of 2016 to participate in the Nuclear Security Summit.

On April 1 he had a meeting with Joe Biden, during which the Vice President expressed concern about continued violence in the NK conflict zone, urged the sides to engage in a dialogue and emphasized the importance of a comprehensive settlement for the long-term stability, security, and prosperity of the region.

A few hours later Azerbaijan launched an offensive that started the April war.

4. What did Biden teach the Turkish president? 

During an official visit to Ankara in August of 2016, Joe Biden gave “a lesson in democracy” to President of Turkey Recep Erdogan.

Erdogan raised again the issue of extradition of his USA-based ideological opponent Fethullah Gulen, which prompted a response from Biden.

Armenian Service of “Voice of America” shared the part of Biden’s speech, in which he was explaining to Erdogan that executive and judicial powers were separate in America.

“I suspect it is hard for your people to understand this,” noted Biden.

5. What “special phone call” did Biden make? 

In October of 2018 former Minister of Defense of Armenia Vigen Sargsyan criticized the foreign policy of Nikol Pashinyan’s government.

“Having been involved in all talks between Armenia’s highest leadership with foreign powers for around 15 years, I cannot remember a single case of our American partners questioning the Armenia-Russia military alliance. Instead I can recall the special phone call that Vice President Biden made to tell President Sarkissian that the Unites States understood Armenia’s sovereign  decision to join the Eurasian Economic Union,” noted Vigen Sargsyan.