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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Obama offers Cuba 'new beginning' | Obama offers Cuba 'new beginning' |
| (2 days later) | |
| President Barack Obama has said the US seeks a "new beginning" with Cuba and an "equal partnership" with all the nations of the Americas. | President Barack Obama has said the US seeks a "new beginning" with Cuba and an "equal partnership" with all the nations of the Americas. |
| Mr Obama was addressing Latin American and Caribbean leaders at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago. | Mr Obama was addressing Latin American and Caribbean leaders at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago. |
| The summit follows a thaw in US-Cuban relations. Cuba is not at the summit. | The summit follows a thaw in US-Cuban relations. Cuba is not at the summit. |
| Earlier, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomed an offer for talks from Cuban President Raul Castro, saying the old US policy had failed. | Earlier, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomed an offer for talks from Cuban President Raul Castro, saying the old US policy had failed. |
| Mr Castro said on Thursday that he was ready to talk about "everything" with the US, including human rights, political prisoners and freedom of the press. | Mr Castro said on Thursday that he was ready to talk about "everything" with the US, including human rights, political prisoners and freedom of the press. |
| His comments came after the US eased restrictions, allowing Cuban-Americans to visit relatives in Cuba and send money home more easily. | |
| Call for change | Call for change |
| Speaking to leaders gathered in Port of Spain, Mr Obama declared: "The US seeks a new beginning with Cuba." | Speaking to leaders gathered in Port of Spain, Mr Obama declared: "The US seeks a new beginning with Cuba." |
| "I know there is a longer journey that must be travelled to overcome decades of mistrust, but there are critical steps we can take toward a new day," he said. | "I know there is a longer journey that must be travelled to overcome decades of mistrust, but there are critical steps we can take toward a new day," he said. |
| We are continuing to look for productive ways forward because we view the present policy as having failed Hillary Clinton Cuba faces tough US choice Clinton admits Cuba policy failed | We are continuing to look for productive ways forward because we view the present policy as having failed Hillary Clinton Cuba faces tough US choice Clinton admits Cuba policy failed |
| Cuba is excluded from the summit, which includes 34 members of the Organisation of American States (OAS), though Latin American leaders have been calling for Cuba to be readmitted. | |
| The US has not maintained high-level diplomatic relations with Cuba since 1960, a year after Fidel Castro led the island's revolution. | |
| Washington also imposed partial trade sanctions in 1960, expanding it to a full economic embargo in 1962. | |
| Under former US President George W Bush, measures were put in place to support Cuban opposition and "hasten the end" of the Castro regime. | Under former US President George W Bush, measures were put in place to support Cuban opposition and "hasten the end" of the Castro regime. |
| However, speaking on Friday in the Dominican Republic, Mrs Clinton acknowledged that US policy towards Cuba had "failed" and said Washington was "taking a very serious look at how to respond." | However, speaking on Friday in the Dominican Republic, Mrs Clinton acknowledged that US policy towards Cuba had "failed" and said Washington was "taking a very serious look at how to respond." |
| Chavez handshake | Chavez handshake |
| Addressing the summit, Mr Obama said he wanted to move forward with a sense of "equal partnership" with all the nations of the Americas despite decades of mistrust. | Addressing the summit, Mr Obama said he wanted to move forward with a sense of "equal partnership" with all the nations of the Americas despite decades of mistrust. |
| First Bush, now Obama - Chavez meets a new US president | First Bush, now Obama - Chavez meets a new US president |
| "I am here to launch a new chapter of engagement that will be sustained throughout my administration," he said to applause from the delegates. | "I am here to launch a new chapter of engagement that will be sustained throughout my administration," he said to applause from the delegates. |
| Mr Obama earlier greeted and shook hands with Venezuela's President, Hugo Chavez, during an impromptu meeting. | Mr Obama earlier greeted and shook hands with Venezuela's President, Hugo Chavez, during an impromptu meeting. |
| Photographs released by the Venezuelan government showed Mr Chavez - one of the Bush's administrations most strident critics - smiling and clasping hands with Mr Obama at the start of the summit. | Photographs released by the Venezuelan government showed Mr Chavez - one of the Bush's administrations most strident critics - smiling and clasping hands with Mr Obama at the start of the summit. |
| Before the summit began Mr Chavez appeared to chastise the US for its approach to Cuba, which is not a member of the OAS. | Before the summit began Mr Chavez appeared to chastise the US for its approach to Cuba, which is not a member of the OAS. |
| In a pre-summit statement, he also said that "there is more democracy in Cuba than in the United States". | In a pre-summit statement, he also said that "there is more democracy in Cuba than in the United States". |
| But he greeted the US president warmly when the opportunity arrived, gripping the Mr Obama's hand in welcome. | But he greeted the US president warmly when the opportunity arrived, gripping the Mr Obama's hand in welcome. |
| "I greeted Bush with this hand eight years ago; I want to be your friend," Mr Chavez told Mr Obama, according to a Venezuelan presidential press office statement. | "I greeted Bush with this hand eight years ago; I want to be your friend," Mr Chavez told Mr Obama, according to a Venezuelan presidential press office statement. |
| "It was very, very short," said a US official. "The president shook his hand, smiled and then went back to his position in the line." | "It was very, very short," said a US official. "The president shook his hand, smiled and then went back to his position in the line." |
| Summit leaders are also expected to address the economic downturn and the region's energy and security needs at the weekend talks. | Summit leaders are also expected to address the economic downturn and the region's energy and security needs at the weekend talks. |