Athens, Rajab 22, 1435, May 21, 2014, SPA -- US Vice President Joe Biden began a three-day visit to the ethnically divided island of Cyprus on Wednesday, which is seen as extending American support for renewed peace efforts, dpa reported. The visit is the first by a US vice president to the island in 52 years. "I have come to Cyprus to form a strategic partnership," Biden said upon his arrival at the airport in Larnaca. He referred to Cyprus' cooperation in the removal of chemical weapons from Syria and its regional role in energy security. He said an important focus of talks would be the peace settlement process for the island. -- SPA 00:08 LOCAL TIME 21:08 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w