Leaders from across the Americas gathered today for a summit overshadowed by an intense debate over a possible reconciliation between the United States and Cuba and how this could be achieved, according to Reuters. President Barack Obama, making his first diplomatic foray as U.S. leader in Latin America and the Caribbean, has extended a hand to communist-ruled Cuba, saying he wants to "recast" the hostile relationship between Washington and Havana. But he wants Cuba to help by opening up more political freedoms. Raising hopes of possible future rapprochement, Cuban President Raul Castro said in Venezuela on Thursday his country was open for talks with the United States about "everything". But he demanded respect for Cuba's sovereignty. The issue of U.S.-Cuba ties is not on the formal summit agenda or included in the draft declaration, which proposes broad coordination to tackle the effects of the global economic crisis that is hitting countries across the region, from the United States and Brazil to the smallest Caribbean state.
