US Vice-President begins talks in Paris

US Vice-President Joe Biden holds talks here Monday with President, Francois Hollande, on major international crisis like Syria, Iran and Mali, as well as bilateral questions, officials said. Biden arrived here Sunday from Munich, Germany, where he attended an important, international security and politics conference. He will leave for talks in London, after the Paris leg of this three-nation tour. In an interview with daily "Le Figaro," Biden expressed strong support for French military operations in Mali, where over 3,000 French soldiers, allied with African countries, are seeking to defeat Islamist-led radicals who had taken over half of Mali until the French intervention on January 10. He called for a more "integrated strategy" in tacking the situation in Mali and for the use of a broader panoply of tools available. France has been largely alone among Western nations putting "boots on the ground" in Mali, supported by a growing number of under-equipped and under-trained troops from several African nations - mostly from West Africa. International support has been confined to providing mainly transport assistance for the French troops, some medical teams and also intelligence, which has come largely from the United States. Nonetheless, Biden stated that the conflict in Mali was "in America's interest" and he said the US "applauded" the French initiative. The US is now said to be putting refuelling aircraft at the disposal of the French air force. Biden also told the French newspaper that Iran must take the international talks to resolve the nuclear impasse seriously. He told Iran that "the diplomatic window is closing" on this file, a warning has been made by other leaders. "The ball is in the Iranian court. As far as we are concerned, we have and continue to make real efforts with a view to achieving a diplomatic resolution for the concerns of the international community about the Iranian nuclear program. But the diplomatic window is closing, Biden said in the interview. "The Iranian government must address in seriousness and good faith negotiations with the 5+1. Iran having not accepted to come to Istanbul January 28-29, the 5+1 proposed new dates in February, "he indicated. "At this stage there is still no agreement on the next round of discussions and the contacts to pursue," Biden pointed out, clearly indicating that it was up to "Iran to get in line with its international obligations or continue to face paralysing sanctions and growing pressure." He declared that the US would stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and "would do what is necessary to make sure that doesn't happen." But he said that there was still time for diplomacy and pressure to work in resolving this issue.