Harris and Trump make final push in must-win Pennsylvania    Drones and snipers on standby to protect Arizona vote-counters    India's Modi condemns violence after Canada temple incident    Elon Musk can keep giving $1m to voters, judge rules    Al Ahli extends perfect start with 5-1 victory over Al Shorta    Mitrovic's hat-trick leads Al Hilal to 3-0 victory over Esteghlal    Tourism Development Fund launches "Tourism Empowerment" programs to enhance sustainable growth of SMEs    Saudi crown prince, Tunisian president review bilateral relations in phone call    SFDA Chief visits premier biotechnology and medical firms in China    Al-Khereiji: Collective action in combating terrorism is a must for achieving stability and prosperity    Saudi Awwal Bank becomes the Kingdom's first bank obtaining ISO certification for quality management system in operations    10 cooperation agreements signed during Saudi-Turkish Business Forum in Istanbul    Saudi Arabia's non-oil revenues grow 6% in 9 months while Q3 budget posts SR30 billion deficit    Quincy Jones, titan of US music, dies aged 91    Enhancing zakat, tax, and customs compliance takes center stage at the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Conference 2024    Neymar expected to join Al Hilal squad for AFC clash against Esteghlal, says coach Jesus    Al Qadsiah secure 2-0 victory over Al Ettifaq in first Eastern Derby since 2021    Hidden sugars in Asia's baby food spark concerns    HONOR unveils pre-order of the stunning HONOR MagicBook Art 14 Featuring an ultra-slim design, HONOR Eye Comfort Display and AI Cross-OS WorkStation    Teri Garr, Young Frankenstein and Tootsie star, dies at 79    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Obama calls for "deeds" to follow very productive summit
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 19 - 04 - 2009


US President Barack Obama hailed as "very
productive" the Summit of the Americas that ended Sunday in Trinidad
and Tobago, but stressed that a lot remained to be done, particularly
on the key issue of US-Cuban relations, according to dpa.
"The test for all of us is not simply words but also deeds," he
said at a press conference in Port of Spain following the end of the
summit.
Obama said that migration and energy were discussed along with
more thorny issues like Cuba or US-Latin American relations more
generally. The summit went some way towards "launching a new era of
partnership" between nations around the region and showed
"potentially-positive signs," he noted.
As to likely criticism within the United States for his recent
advances towards Cuba - to signal historic changes in a relationship
that has been troubled for half-a-century - and Venezuela, Obama said
that his mandate lies elsewhere.
"I don't worry about the politics, I try to figure out what's
right in terms of the American interest," he stressed.
On the key issue of Cuba - the focus of the summit despite not
being officially on its agenda - Obama insisted on concepts that had
come up in recent days.
"The policy that we have had in place for 50 years has not worked
the way we wanted it to," he said.
Cuba was suspended from the Organization of American States (OAS)
in 1962, at the behest of the United States. For this reason, it was
the only one of the 35 countries in the Americas that was not
represented in Trinidad and Tobago.
Although OAS Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza had expressed
the wish that Cuba would indeed take part in the next Summit of the
Americas in three years' time, and although Latin American nations
had insisted on the need for the US to lift its decades-old embargo
on the communist island, Obama was more cautious.
He sent a message to Havana, saying that policy changes cannot be
unilateral. For Obama, the issues of political prisoners, freedom of
speech, freedom of religion and democracy in general "continue to be
important."
Obama admitted that while he did not "see eye to eye with every
regional leader" on every possible issue, the summit in Port of Spain
delivered an important result.
"We showed that while we have our differences we can work
together."
Obama again stressed the importance of "mutual respect" in
international relations. However, while he did not shirk away from
his country's special responsibilities, he noted that even Washington
cannot act alone.
"The United States remains the most powerful, wealthiest nation on
earth, but we're only one nation," he said. "Problems cannot be
solved by just one country."
Obama said he had "very cordial" conversations with US critics
like presidents Evo Morales of Bolivia and Rafael Correa of Ecuador,
beyond his highly-publicized encounters with Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez.
"President Chavez is just better at positioning the cameras," he
said to prompt laughter among reporters.
Security and the fight against drug trafficking were discussed
during the summit, as they were during Obama's trip to Mexico en
route to Trinidad and Tobago.
"We are acting boldly, we are acting swiftly and we are acting in
concert," he said of an issue that had brought Washington to a head
with its Mexican and Central American partners.
The gathering in Port of Spain was Obama's firts major meeting
with Latin America, and Chavez among others had anticipated tensions
that later appeared to defuse.
The United States "has a history in this region," Obama admitted.
In relation to past interventions, that Latin American nations resent
to this day, the new US president stressed that he is only
"responsible for how this administration acts."
However, he said he believes that his country can be strengthened
by the acknowledgement that it has "stranded from" its own values.
The change in approach has not "have suddenly transformed every
foreign policy item that is on the agenda" and there will continue to
be "very tough negotiations" on a wide range of issues, Obama warned.
However, he stressed that talking to colleagues from the region,
and particularly seeing them talk about the assistance they get from
Cuban doctors, made him more aware that the United States has to use
diplomacy and development aid "in more intelligent ways."


Clic here to read the story from its source.