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At summit, Obama offers partnership, humor
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-04-18 18:23

At summit, Obama offers partnership, humor
Presidents of Chile Michelle Bachelet, Argentina Cristina Fernandez, the US Barack Obama and Brazil Inacio Lula da Silva (L-R) talk before the opening ceremony of the 5th Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain April 17, 2009.   [Agencies]

But perhaps the biggest applause line was his call for a fresh start in relations between Washington and Havana.

"I know there's a longer journey that must be traveled to overcome decades of mistrust, but there are critical steps we can take toward a new day," he said.

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On Tuesday, Obama ordered an easing of travel and remittance restrictions for Americans with relatives in Cuba. Within hours, Castro - who took over from his brother Fidel a year ago - responded with an offer of talks on "everything" that divides the two countries.

The White House welcomed the offer.

Added Obama: "I am not interested in talking for the sake of talking. But I do believe that we can move US-Cuban relations in a new direction."

Cuba became a dominant issue even though the summit was taking place amid the worst global downturn since the Great Depression.

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 new regional partnership to develop alternative energy sources and fight global warming.

But most of all, he offered an end to old hemispheric arguments.

"I didn't come here to debate the past," Obama said. "I came here to deal with the future ... We must learn from history. But we can't be trapped by it."