PANAMA CITY (Reuters) – US President Barack Obama met Cuban President Raul Castro yesterday in the highest-level talks between the two countries in nearly 60 years, and the two men agreed to push ahead on improving relations after decades of hostility.
Describing their private meeting as “historic,” Obama said the two countries can end the antagonism of the Cold War era, although he also said he would continue to pressure the communist-led country on democracy and its human rights record.
Presidents Obama and Castro shake hands at the Panama summit yesterday (Photo: NPR News)
“We are now in a position to move on a path toward the future,” Obama told Castro as they met in Panama, where they were both attending a summit of leaders from across the Americas.
Obama said there would still be “deep and significant differences” between the two governments and that he would continue to raise concerns on democracy and human rights in Cuba, while Castro will criticize US policies.
“But I think what we have both concluded is that we can disagree with the spirit of respect and civility, and that over time it is possible for us to turn the page and develop a new relationship in our two countries.”
The two men agreed in December to move to normalize relations, including seeking to restore diplomatic ties that were broken off by Washington in 1961.
Obama said he decided to overturn longstanding US policy on Cuba because the old approach of open hostility and economic sanctions had failed to force through major changes on the island and it was time to try something new.
Since then, he has relaxed some restrictions on travel and trade with Cuba.
At their meeting yesterday, Obama and Castro sat side by side in polished, wooden chairs in a small conference room. The mood cordial but businesslike.
Both wore dark suits and each nodded and smiled at some of the comments made by the other in brief statements to reporters before they began their talks.
Castro said he would continue to take steps toward normalizing relations with Washington, and was open to discussing human rights and other issues.
“So we are willing to discuss everything, but we need to be patient, very patient. Some things we will agree on; others we will disagree,” said the 83-year-old leader, who took over as president of Cuba in 2008 when his older brother, Fidel Castro, stepped aside because of ill health.
