Obama extends hands to Chavez, Ortega at summit
Posted: under "DID YOU KNOW".
Tags: ambassadors, America, applause, Bolivia, Caribbean, Cuba, economy, El Salvador, election, encouragement, energy, friends, goal, government, handshake, intelligence, laughter, leaders, link, listening, luncheon, meeting, moment, nation, neighbor, Nicaragua, officials, pledge, politics, power, president, respect, security, smiles, source, spirit, summit, Trinidad, Venezuela, voters, White House, world
President Barack Obama, left, talks to Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez,right, as El Salvador’s President …
..
By Mark S. Smith, Associated Press Writer – 38 mins ago
..
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – President Barack Obama offered a spirit of cooperation to America’s hemispheric neighbors at a summit Saturday, listening to complaints about past U.S. meddling and even reaching out to Venezuela’s leftist leader.
While he worked to ease friction between the U.S. and their countries, Obama cautioned leaders at the Summit of the Americas to resist a temptation to blame all their problems on their behemoth neighbor to the north.
“I have a lot to learn and I very much look forward to listening and figuring out how we can work together more effectively,” Obama said.
Obama said he was ready to accept Cuban President Raul Castro’s proposal of talks on issues once off-limits for Cuba, including political prisoners held by the communist government.
While praising America’s initial effort to thaw relations with Havana, the leaders pushed the U.S. to go further and lift the 47-year-old U.S. trade embargo against Cuba.
To Latin American nations reeling from a sudden plunge in exports, Obama promised a new hemispheric growth fund, an initiative to increase Caribbean security and a partnership to develop alternative energy sources and fight global warming.
As the first full day of meetings began on the two-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago Saturday, Obama exchanged handshakes and pats on the back with Venezuela’s Hugo
Comments (0)
Apr 18 2009