Backgrounder: Recent events in U.S.-L. America relationship

U.S. President Barack Obama (C) attends the opening cermony of the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, April 17, 2009. (Xinhua/David de la Paz) Photo Gallery>>>

    PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, Apr. 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said here Friday that he seeks "a new beginning" in relationship with Cuba and pledged to launch new chapter with the Latin America as a whole.

    "The United States seeks a new beginning with Cuba. I know there is a longer journey that must be traveled in overcoming decades of mistrust, but there are critical steps we can take toward a new day," Obama said in his remarks at the opening ceremony of the Fifth Summit of the Americas.

    "I have already changed a Cuba policy that has failed to advance liberty or opportunity for the Cuban people. We will now allow Cuban Americans to visit the island whenever they choose and to provide resources to their families -- the same way that so many people in my country send money back to their families in your countries to help them pay for their everyday needs," he said.

    "Over the past two years, I have indicated -- and I repeat today -- that I am prepared to have my administration engage with the Cuban government on a wide range of issues -- from human rights, free speech, and democratic reform to drugs, migration, and economic issues," said Obama.

U.S. President Barack Obama addresses the opening ceremony of the Fifth Summit of Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, April 17, 2009.(Xinhua/David de la Paz) Photo Gallery>>>

    "Let me be clear: I am not interested in talking for the sake of talking. But I do believe that we can move U.S.-Cuban relations in a new direction," said the president.

    Obama also pledged to move toward a new sense of partnership with the rest of the West Hemisphere. "All of us must now renew the common stake that we have in one another. I know that promises of partnership have gone unfulfilled in the past, and that trust must be earned over time. While the United States has done much on behalf of peace and prosperity in the hemisphere, we have at times been disengaged or sought to dictate our terms. But I pledge to you that we seek an equal partnership," he said.

    "There is no senior partner and junior partner in our relations; there is simply engagement based upon mutual respect, common interests, and shared values. So I am here to launch a new chapter of engagement that will be sustained throughout my Administration," said Obama.

    The U.S. president arrived here in the afternoon and was greeted by Paula Goppe-Scoon, Trinidad and Tobago's foreign minister at the airport of Port of Spain. As his motorcade drove to the Hyatt Regency, the summit's site, groups of people stood along the road watching and waving to him.

    Obama will meet with Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Patrick Manning and then hold a meeting with a group of Caribbean country leaders.

Photo taken on April 17, 2009 shows the opening ceremony of the Fifth Summit of the Americas held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. (Xinhua/David de la Paz) Photo Gallery>>>

    PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The Fifth Summit of the Americas opened here Friday, with economy, energy, the environment, security and Cuba high on the agenda of the three-day event.

    The theme of the summit, which gathered leaders from 34 countries in the hemisphere, is "Securing Our Citizens' Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability." Full story

Obama attends summit, envisions "new beginning" with Cuba

    PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, Apr. 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to say that he envisions to seek "a new beginning" in relationship with Cuba here Friday.

    "I am not interested in talking for the sake of talking. But I do believe that we can move U.S.-Cuban relations in a new direction," Obama will say, according to his prepared remarks to be delivered at the opening ceremony of the Fifth Summit of the Americas. Full story

U.S., Cuba show signs of reconciliation ahead of Americas summit

    PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, April 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. and Cuban leaders exchanged good-will gestures as hemispheric leaders gathered on Friday for the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago.

    During Thursday's visit to Mexico, U.S. President Barack Obama said that his recent decision to remove travel and money-sending restrictions on Cuba were intended to "recast our relationship," and that it was now up to Cuba to take the next move. Full story

U.S. ready for new start in ties with L America

    MEXICO CITY, April 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama's ongoing visit to Mexico and his upcoming attendance at the Summit of the Americas represent an important step in U.S. efforts to open a new chapter in relations with Latin America.

    Signs of rapprochement between top officials of the two sides, a modest thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations and a fresh U.S. approach to the anti-drug campaign all show that Obama appears determined to seek a new, more collaborative U.S.-Latin American relationship. Full story

Obama, Chavez exchanges greeting before Americas summit opens

    PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, April 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez exchanged greetings with smile outside the venue of the Fifth Summit of the Americas, in Port of Spain, minutes before the opening ceremony of the summit on Friday evening, showed TV footages. Full story

White House says "struck" by Castro's comments on U.S.-Cuban ties

    PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, April 17 (Xinhua) -- As U.S. President Barack Obama is attending the opening ceremony of the Summit of the Americas, the White House said Friday that it's "struck" by the comments made by Cuban president Raul Castro on U.S.-Cuba relations.

    Raul Castro, brother of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, said Thursday that "everything" would be up for discussion with the Obama administration and the Cuban government may have been "wrong" in avoiding U.S.-Cuba talks in the past. Full story

Americas leaders arrives for weekend summit

    PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Leaders from across the western hemisphere are arriving in Port of Spain, capital of Trinidad and Tobago, for the Fifth Summit of the Americas slated for Friday evening.

    U.S. President Barack Obama, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias were among the leaders who flew in the tiny oil-rich nation in the afternoon. Full story

What's on Obama's agenda at 5th Summit of the Americas

    PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, April 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama will meet with 33 heads of state or government of the West Hemisphere at the Fifth Summit of the Americas for the first time here later Friday.

    Although more details are still to be worked out for the president's policy for the region, he has been developing a Latin America agenda since running for president last year. Full story

Port of Spain braces for Americas summit

    PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of 34 countries in the western hemisphere gather here later Friday to kick off the Fifth Summit of the Americas.

    Trinidad and Tobago, the first Caribbean country to host a summit of the Americas, has pooled national efforts to pull off the party, constructing the state's two tallest buildings and sprucing up the airport for the event. Full story

Obama arrives in Trinidad and Tobago for Summit of Americas

    PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, April 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday arrived in Port of Spain, capital of Trinidad and Tobago, for the fifth Summit of Americas scheduled from Friday to Sunday.

    Obama will address a speech on Thursday evening at the opening ceremony of the summit, the first time for him, since his taking office in January, to show the policy change toward the Latin America from that of his predecessor George W. Bush. Full story