US seeks new beginning with Cuba,says Obama

Cubas willingness to talk does not mean that it is willing to change policies. But the rhetorical exchange was the most hopeful sign in years of a thawing in relations between the two countries. The possibility of change was emphasised by a friendly greeting between Obama and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez,a longtime US critic and staunch supporter of Cuba.

Obama and Chavez were among the leaders attending the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago,a gathering of 34 democratically elected leaders from the Western Hemisphere. The two leaders shook hands and smiled broadly at each other.

The flurry of overtures represented the latest in the diplomatic choreography that began with the election of Obama. The US President has called for a new openness to Cuba,and began easing restrictions on contacts with the island.

Castro responded at a meeting on Thursday of Leftist leaders in Venezuela.

We are willing to discuss everything human rights,freedom of press,political prisoners,everything,everything,everything they want to talk about, Castro said. We could be wrong; we admit it. Were human.

Obama,in opening remarks at the summit,spoke of the relationship between the two countries.

The United States seeks a new beginning with Cuba, Obama said. Over the past two years,I have indicated and I repeat today that I am prepared to have my administration engage with the Cuban Government on a wide range of issues from human rights,free speech,and democratic reform to drugs,migration,and economic issues.

Analysts and lawmakers who favour expanded contact with Cuba cautioned that at least three attempts in the last 35 years to relax tensions collapsed in acrimony.

But Castros explicit offer to discuss issues such as political prisoners and human rights with US officials was apparently a first for a top Cuban official,and White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama administration officials were particularly struck by that concession.

Arriving at the Summit of the Americas,Obama approached Chavez as leaders waited in line to enter a reception. The two spoke about changing the relationship of their countries,according to Chavezs office in a statement that a senior Obama administration official did not dispute.

During his opening remarks,Obama did not say he would seek to end the US embargo against Cuba. But he indicated an openness to shift US policies,pointing to his decision earlier this week to ease travel and financial restrictions on Cuban Americans.

The two countries remain stalemated on major issues: Cuba wants the US to lift the embargo and remove travel restrictions,but the Obama administration wants Cuba to first free political prisoners,improve human rights and adopt economic reforms before taking more drastic steps.

Cuba was not invited to the Summit of the Americas because Castro was not democratically elected.

However,the countrys inclusion in the economic and diplomatic affairs of the hemisphere emerged as a top subject of the three-day summit. Many leaders called for a repeal of the US embargo and greater inclusion of Cuba.