Obama Optimistic on Americas Ties
Barack Obama has said that Cuba and Venezuela, as well as the United States, must match words with deeds if they are to thaw their relations.
While noting the "positive signs" in Washington's relationships with the two Latin American states, the US president, speaking at the close of a Summit of the Americas, said they had to be backed up by action.
"The test for all of us is not simply words but also deeds," Obama said on Sunday.
"I do believe that the signals sent so far provide at least an opportunity for frank dialogue on a range of issues, including critical issues of democracy and human rights throughout the hemisphere," he said.
Specifically on Cuba, Obama admitted that Washington's half-century-old policy on the communist island "hasn't worked the way we want it to; the Cuban people aren't free".
But that policy will not be changed "overnight", he said.
"Issues of political prisoners, freedom of speech and democracy are important, and can't simply be brushed aside," he said, calling on Havana to release its political prisoners.
Obama's comments tempered speculation that a historic thaw in relations between the United States and Cuba - and with Cuba's chief ally Venezuela - was on its way following conciliatory gestures by all three countries.
Handshake defended
The US president also defended his highly publicised handshake at the summit with Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president.
A vocal critic of the US, Chavez had likened George Bush, Obama's predecessor, to the "devil".
The handshake drew quick condemnation from US Republicans back home, but Obama brushed that aside.
He said Venezuela has a defence budget about one-six hundredth the size of the United States', and owns Citgo, the oil company.
"It's hard to believe we are endangering the strategic interests of the United States when he [US president] talks with Chavez," Obama said.
The trip to Trinidad was Obama's first presidential journey to the region, and he said the meeting of heads of state had the potential to create greater progress on economic, climate control and immigration.
As he did on a recent trip to Europe, Obama stressed that the United States is a willing partner, "inclined to listen and not just talk", in trying to advance national interests.
"We recognise that other countries have good ideas, too, and we want to hear them," he said, adding that the fact that an idea comes "from a small country, like Costa Rica," should not diminish its potential benefit.
Chavez gesture
Chavez approached Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, during the summit and said he was restoring his nation's ambassador in Washington, voicing hopes for a new era in relations after exchanging greetings with Obama.
The Venezuelan leader told reporters he will propose Roy Chaderton, his current ambassador to the Organisation of American States, as the country's new representative in a move towards improving strained ties with Washington.
Even Daniel Ortega, the president of Nicaragua and a critic of US policy, said he found Obama receptive to dealing with the issues raised.
Ortega said Obama "is the president of an empire" that has rules the president cannot change. Nevertheless, Ortega said: "I want to believe that he's inclined, that he's got the will."
While noting the "positive signs" in Washington's relationships with the two Latin American states, the US president, speaking at the close of a Summit of the Americas, said they had to be backed up by action.
"The test for all of us is not simply words but also deeds," Obama said on Sunday.
"I do believe that the signals sent so far provide at least an opportunity for frank dialogue on a range of issues, including critical issues of democracy and human rights throughout the hemisphere," he said.
Specifically on Cuba, Obama admitted that Washington's half-century-old policy on the communist island "hasn't worked the way we want it to; the Cuban people aren't free".
But that policy will not be changed "overnight", he said.
"Issues of political prisoners, freedom of speech and democracy are important, and can't simply be brushed aside," he said, calling on Havana to release its political prisoners.
Obama's comments tempered speculation that a historic thaw in relations between the United States and Cuba - and with Cuba's chief ally Venezuela - was on its way following conciliatory gestures by all three countries.
Handshake defended
The US president also defended his highly publicised handshake at the summit with Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president.
A vocal critic of the US, Chavez had likened George Bush, Obama's predecessor, to the "devil".
The handshake drew quick condemnation from US Republicans back home, but Obama brushed that aside.
He said Venezuela has a defence budget about one-six hundredth the size of the United States', and owns Citgo, the oil company.
"It's hard to believe we are endangering the strategic interests of the United States when he [US president] talks with Chavez," Obama said.
The trip to Trinidad was Obama's first presidential journey to the region, and he said the meeting of heads of state had the potential to create greater progress on economic, climate control and immigration.
As he did on a recent trip to Europe, Obama stressed that the United States is a willing partner, "inclined to listen and not just talk", in trying to advance national interests.
"We recognise that other countries have good ideas, too, and we want to hear them," he said, adding that the fact that an idea comes "from a small country, like Costa Rica," should not diminish its potential benefit.
Chavez gesture
Chavez approached Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, during the summit and said he was restoring his nation's ambassador in Washington, voicing hopes for a new era in relations after exchanging greetings with Obama.
The Venezuelan leader told reporters he will propose Roy Chaderton, his current ambassador to the Organisation of American States, as the country's new representative in a move towards improving strained ties with Washington.
Even Daniel Ortega, the president of Nicaragua and a critic of US policy, said he found Obama receptive to dealing with the issues raised.
Ortega said Obama "is the president of an empire" that has rules the president cannot change. Nevertheless, Ortega said: "I want to believe that he's inclined, that he's got the will."
quoted from: Al Jazeera. Net
