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Barak Obama's Speech at Summit of the Americas

FULL TEXT of Barak Obama's Speech at Summit of the Americas Opening Ceremony

OBAMA: 'I think everybody recognizes that we come together at a critical moment for the people of the Americas.  Our well-being has been set back by a historic economic crisis.  Our safety is endangered by a broad range of threats.  But this peril can be eclipsed by the promise of a new prosperity and personal security and the protection of liberty and justice for all the people of our hemisphere.  That's the future that we can build together, but only if we move forward with a new sense of partnership...'

'I'm prepared to have my administration engage with the Cuban government on a wide range of issues -- from drugs, migration, and economic issues, to human rights, free speech, and democratic reform.  Now, let me be clear, I'm not interested in talking just for the sake of talking. But I do believe that we can move U.S.-Cuban relations in a new direction...'

Photo: White House photo by Pete Souza

Read FULL TEXT of  of Barak Obama's Speech at Summit of the Americas Opening Ceremony

SUMMIT of the AMERICAS -- Obama Newspaper Editorial Reaches ARGENTINA, CHILE, COLOMBIA, ECUADOR, VENEZUELA...

    Escogiendo un futuro mejor en las Américas
                        Presidente Barack Obama
US President Obama has started to reach out to Latin America prior to to his arrival at the Summit of the Americas.  Obam's editorial was publised in Spanish in El Nuevo Herald (USA); La Nación (Argentina); El Mercurio (Chile); El Tiempo (Colombia); La Nación (Costa Rica); El Comercio (Ecuador); El Universal (México); El Comercio (Perú); El Nuevo Día (Puerto Rico); El País (Uruguay); and El Nacional (Venezuela) and in Portuguese in Brazil's O Globo.

Here's the full text of Obama's editorial printed in Latin American Newspapers.

Choosing a Better Future in the Americas
President Barack Obama

As we approach the Summit of the Americas, our hemisphere is faced with a clear choice. We can overcome our shared challenges with a sense of common purpose, or we can stay mired in the old debates of the past. For the sake of all our people, we must choose the future.

Too often, the United States has not pursued and sustained engagement with our neighbors. We have been too easily distracted by other priorities, and have failed to see that our own progress is tied directly to progress throughout the Americas. My Administration is committed to the promise of a new day. We will renew and sustain a broader partnership between the United States and the hemisphere on behalf of our common prosperity and our common security.

In advance of the Summit, we have begun to move in a new direction. This week, we amended a Cuba policy that has failed for decades to advance liberty or opportunity for the Cuban people. In particular, the refusal to allow Cuban Americans to visit or provide resources to their families on the island made no sense – particularly after years of economic hardship in Cuba, and the devastating hurricanes that took place last year. Now, that policy has changed.

Reponse from Fidel Castro to US-Obama: 're Blockade -- not a word was said'

About the blockade, which is the cruelest of measures, not a word was said...The damage is measured not only by its economic effects but leads to our citizens suffering.  --- Fidel Castro

REFLECTIONS OF FIDEL | 'Of the Blockade, Not a Word Was Said' -- 
by Fidel Castro posted on Cuba's official 'Granma' -- RUSH TRANSLATION
The U.S. government announced by CNN, that this week, Obama shall Mexico, beginning his journey toward Port Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, where it will be within four days to participate in the Summit of the Americas. He [Obama] announced the easing of some of odious restrictions imposed by Bush to Cubans living in United States to visit their relatives in Cuba. When asked whether such privileges accorded to other Americans, the answer was that they were not authorized.

About the blockade, which is the cruelest of measures, not a word was said. This is called piety what constitutes a genocide. The damage is measured not only by its economic effects. Life is a constantly painful and leads to our citizens suffering.

US-CUBA: Reponse (in original Spanish) -- Respuesta de Fidel Castro de Cuba a Obama's anuncio de Cuba de la Casa Blanca, 13 de April-- en el original español

Respuesta de Fidel Castro de Cuba a Obama's anuncio de Cuba de la Casa Blanca, 13 de April-- en el original español -- desde el sitio web oficial de la versión cubana de prensa Granma:
REFLEXIONES DE FIDEL:  Del Bloqueo No Se Dijo una Palabra: El gobierno de Estados Unidos anunció a través de la CNN, que esta semana, Obama visitaría a México, iniciando su viaje rumbo a Puerto España, Trinidad y Tobago, donde estará dentro de cuatro días para participar en la Cumbre de las Américas.
--- a seguir leyendo el texto completo de la declaración de Castro, por favor haga clic en el LINK de abajo ----

US-CUBA: Expect Further Opening to CUBA? Press Q & A, (English y Español)

Follow-up Questions from the Press following White House Cuba Statement with Obama's Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and Dan Restrepo, Special Assistant To The President and Senior Director For Western Hemisphere Affairs

Question/Press -- Is this a first step toward diplomatic recognition?

MR. RESTREPO:  This is a step to extend a hand to the Cuban people in support of their desire to determine their own future.  It’s very important to help open up space so the Cuban people can work on the kind of grassroots democracy that is necessary to move Cuba to a better future.  The President promised this during the campaign and he is making good on that promise today to extend his hand to the Cuban people, to ensure that they have more independence from the regime and the ability to start working down the path that we all want to see them succeed on.

Question/Press -- Does it mean between the two countries that you have diplomatic relations?
MR. RESTREPO:  This is reaching out to the Cuban people.
Question/Press -- So the answer is what?
MR. GIBBS:  I’m sorry, what was the --

Question/Press -- I'm trying to find out if there's a movement towards the two countries getting together and having a diplomatic recognition.

MR. GIBBS:  Well, I think in many ways that depends on the actions of the Cuban government.  The action that the President took today is one that allows -- one that allows families to visit families, one that allows families to send back some of their hard-earned money to help their family members.  And I think maybe the best way to sum this up is the way the President summed this up last year -- to say that there are no better ambassadors for freedom than Cuban Americans.  He said, and I quote, "It's time to let Cuban Americans see their mothers and fathers, their sisters and brothers.  It's time to let Cuban American money make their families less dependent on the Castro regime."

White House Cuba Statement in English y español

FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, Office of the Press Secretary, April 13, 2009
PRESS BRIEFING (including Spanish text) BY PRESS SECRETARY ROBERT GIBBS AND DAN RESTREPO, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR WESTERN HEMISPHERE AFFAIRS

WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY ROBERT GIBBS:  Good.  Before we do our regularly scheduled program, I’ve got a short announcement.  And I am joined for the bilingual portion of this announcement by Dan Restrepo, a Special Assistant to the President and a Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council.

Today, President Obama has directed that a series of steps be taken to reach out to the Cuban people to support their desire to enjoy basic human rights and to freely determine their country’s future.  The President has directed the Secretaries of State, Treasury and Commerce to carry out the actions necessary to lift all restrictions on the ability of individuals to visit family members in Cuba, and to send them remittances.  He’s further directed that steps be taken to enable the freer flow of information among the Cuban people and between those in Cuba and the rest of the world, as well as to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian items directly to the Cuban people.

US - CUBA: WHITE HOUSE Fact Sheet on Obama Change in Foreign Policy to Cuba

FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, Office of the Press Secrectary, April 13th, 2009
FACT SHEET: REACHING OUT TO THE CUBAN PEOPLE

Today, the Obama administration announced a series of changes in U.S. policy to reach out to the Cuban people in support of their desire to freely determine their country’s future. In taking these steps to help bridge the gap among divided Cuban families and promote the freer flow of information and humanitarian items to the Cuban people, President Obama is working to fulfill the goals he identified both during his presidential campaign and since taking office.

All who embrace core democratic values long for a Cuba that respects basic human, political and economic rights of all its citizens. President Obama believes these measures will help make that goal a reality.

Cuban American connections to family in Cuba are not only a basic right in humanitarian terms, but also our best tool for helping to foster the beginnings of grassroots democracy on the island. There are no better ambassadors for freedom than Cuban Americans. Accordingly, President Obama will direct the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and Commerce to support the Cuban people’s desire for freedom and self-determination by lifting all restrictions on family visits and remittances as well as taking steps that will facilitate greater contact between separated family members in the United States and Cuba and increase the flow of information and humanitarian resources directly to the Cuban people. The President is also calling on the Cuban government to reduce the charges it levies on cash remittances sent to the island so family members can be assured they are receiving the support sent to them.

Specifically, the President has directed the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and Commerce to take the needed steps to:

• Lift all restrictions on transactions related to the travel of family members to Cuba.
• Remove restrictions on remittances to family members in Cuba.
• Authorize U.S. telecommunications network providers to enter into agreements to establish fiber-optic cable and satellite telecommunications facilities linking the United States and Cuba.
• License U.S. telecommunications service providers to enter into roaming service agreements with Cuba’s telecommunications service providers.
• License U.S. satellite radio and satellite television service providers to engage in transactions necessary to provide services to customers in Cuba.
• License persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to activate and pay U.S. and third-country service providers for telecommunications, satellite radio and satellite television services provided to individuals in Cuba.
• Authorize the donation of certain consumer telecommunication devices without a license.
• Add certain humanitarian items to the list of items eligible for export through licensing exceptions.

REACHING OUT TO THE CUBAN PEOPLE

Supporting the Cuban people’s desire to freely determine their future and that of their country is in the national interest of the United States. The Obama administration is taking steps to promote greater contact between separated family members in the United States and Cuba and increase the flow of remittances and information to the Cuban people.

Cuban-American Congressmen Protest Obama Overtures to Cuba

White House statements that the 'US relationship with Cuba should not be frozen in time', possibly fell on frozen ears among more conservative Cuban-American factions. The following joint statement was released (en ingles y Español) almost immediately after the White House's Cuba statement -- by U.S. Congressmen Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Mario Diaz-Balart.

"Obama Commits Serious Mistake Regarding Cuban Dictatorship",  Monday April 13, 2009 -- MIAMI- “President Obama has committed a serious mistake by unilaterally increasing Cuban-American travel and remittance dollars for the Cuban dictatorship.  During his inaugural address on January 20, President Obama stated, ‘to those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.’

US announces an OPENING to CUBA

'U.S. policy toward Cuba is not frozen in time. It's not frozen in time today'
'We're getting the US out of the business of regulating the relationship
between Cuban families'

 The announcement came April 13th from the White House's Press Secretary Robert Gibbs: "The president has directed the secretaries of state, treasury and commerce to carry out the actions necessary to lift all restrictions on the ability of individuals to visit family members in Cuba and to send them remittances.”

 Additionally, the president has “further directed that steps be directed to enable the freer flow of information among the Cuban people and between those in Cuba and the rest of the world, as well as to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian items directly to the Cuban people...You have to extend a hand to the Cuban people in support of their desire to determine their own future...It's very important to help open up space so the Cuban people can work on the, kind of, grassroots democracy that is necessary to move Cuba to a better future.”

At the press conference, Dan Restrepo, Senior Director for Western Hemisphere affairs at the National Security Council added: "We're getting the United States out of the business of regulating the relationship between Cuban families...We are getting ourselves out; the Cuban government should get itself out of the way and allow Cuban families to support Cuban families.' When asked about more overtures, Restrepo nor Gibbs did not add more about policy but Restrepo said "U.S. policy toward Cuba is not frozen in time. It's not frozen in time today. The president believes the place to start is with allowing Cuban-Americans to visit families members, to support them through remittances.”

The White House also released a FACT SHEET on the policy and Presidential Directives, which were presented to Secretary of State Clinton as well the secretaries of treasury and commerce. These included these Obama directives: Lift all restrictions on transactions related to the travel of family members to Cuba; Remove restrictions on remittances to family members in Cuba.;  Authorize U.S. telecommunications network providers to enter into agreements to establish fiber-optic cable and satellite telecommunications facilities linking the United States and Cuba; License U.S. telecommunications service providers to enter into roaming service agreements with Cuba’s telecommunications service providers.

Map: Wikipedia  Photo: Cuba's Granma

US - CUBA: Obama to Lift Restrictions on Travel to Cuba

The Miami Herald and The Washington Post are reporting, April 13th, that US President Obama will announce today that he is lifting the restrictions that block Cuban Americans from traveling to Cuba. The announcement is meant to be timed in sync. with the upcoming Summit of the Americas. Easing of restrictions will also apply to financial help that is allowed (remittances sent from US by Cuban-American family members to the island).

McClatchy Newspapers (reported in The Miami Herald by Lesley Clark), quoted a 'senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity' (since the Obama's White House has not yet made the official announcement) -- "This is an effort to reach out to the Cuban people in an effort to support the Cuban people's desire to freely determine their country's future...The president has said this is the most direct means to open up the kind of space that is necessary to see democratic change in Cuba."

CUBA: Upcoming Summit of the Americas, New Focus on Cuba?

In recent remarks/Press Briefing, Jeffrey S. Davidow, the White House Advisor for the Summit of the Americas, fielded about a dozen questions about Cuba.

Press|Question ---Hi. Do you expect Cuba to be an issue at the summit? Do you not want it to be an issue? And what will you do to see that it’s not an issue? Are you getting pressure from other countries to bring it up? And do you think Cuba should be a participant in the summit?

AMBASSADOR DAVIDOW: Well, to answer your first question, no, I do not think Cuba should be a participant in the summit. This is the fifth summit. And from Miami, you will recall that the summit -- the first summit was in 1994 and it was a celebration and in a way it continues to be a celebration of the profound change in this hemisphere as compared to many periods in the past when the hemisphere was marked by undemocratic governments.

In 1994 at the first summit, it was a unique -- up till that time, a unique moment in time because every government represented there had been elected, was democratic. And here we are, 15 years later, and that trend of democracy has continued. Cuba was not at the first summit. It still remains an undemocratic state. The United States still hopes to see change in Cuba that at some point will allow Cuba to rejoin the inter-American community. But it will not be at this summit.

Now, will Cuba be discussed, which was your other question. This is an open meeting of 34 heads of state. I don’t think one can dictate what is going to be discussed, particularly in -- as I mentioned, there’s one meeting which is a private meeting just of the heads of state. In a way, we believe that it is not -- it would be unfortunate if the principal theme of this meeting turned out to be Cuba. As I’ve told you, I think there are a lot of very important issues that warrant discussion, whether it’s the economic issue, social inclusion, the environment, public safety. We would prefer, obviously, to focus on what we have been preparing for, but there is no effort on our part to try to stifle conversation on any topic.