President Barack Obama on Sunday suggested that Cuba release its political prisoners and defended his highly publicized hand- shakes with Venzuelan President Hugo Chavez, closing an overseas trip that he said heraldeda new start in U.S. ties with Latin America.
Obama said the exchanges with Cuba and Venzuela provided "an opportunity for frank dialogue on a range of issues, including critical issues of democracy and human rights throughtout the hemisphere." and yet, he quickly added, "the test for all of us is not simply words but also deeds." Earlier this week, the Obama adminstration lifted restrictions on Cuban Americans who want to travel and send money to their island homeland and freed U. S. telecommunications companies to seek business there. Havana responded, saying it was open to talks on issues including human rights -a topic long held off-limits.
Obama, speaking to reporters at a closing news conference at the Summit of the Americans, suggested that Cuba could further respond by releasing political prisoners and cutting fees n the money that Cuban- americans send to their families. The president brushed aside Republician condemnation of his friendly exchanges with Chavez. He said Venezuela has a defense budget about one six hundredth the size of the united states' and noted that it ows the oil company Citgo.
"It's hard to believe we are endangering the strategic interests of the United States' by talking with Chavez, he said. The trip was obama's first presendential journey to the region, and he said the meeting of heads of state had the potential to create greater progress on economic progress, climate control and immigration.
As he did on a recent trip to Europe, Obama stressed in Latin America that the U.S. is a willing partner, "inclined to listen and not just talk", in trying to advance national interest. "We recognize that other countries have good ideas, too, and we want to hear them," he said , adding that the fact "that an idea comes from a small country, like Costa Rica", should not disminish its potential benefit.
by the associated press
