Obama, Castro in first sit-down between US, Cuban leaders in more than 50 years

[Bukyanagandi]

Photo: U.S. President Barack Obama smiles during a meeting with Cuba's President Raul Castro, who listens to a translator, during the first plenary session of the Summit of the Americas in Panama City, Panama April 11, 2015

Presidents from the US and Cuba have historically sat down at a negotiating table for the first time in more than 50 years. Barack Obama met with his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro to discuss relations between the two countries.
The meeting has been confirmed by the White House press service.


"We are now in a position to move on a path toward the future," Obama told Castro at the meeting. "Over time it is possible for us to turn the page and develop a new relationship between our two countries."
"We are willing to discuss everything but we need to be patient, very patient," Castro replied.


The US President has thanked Castro for the “spirit of openness” during the remarkable meeting that followed the historic handshake between the two leaders, AFP reported on Saturday.


The meeting took place as both nations attended the Summit of the America’s, which is being held in Panama City.

Over the past 50 or so years, the relations between the leaders of the United States and Cuba have been particularly strained, as after a socialist revolution in the 1950s Havana had to face an American embargo. It was only last year that the two countries announced that would be working to improve the relationship.


Earlier in the day, US President Barack Obama said "the fact that President Castro and I are both sitting here today marks a historic occasion," reminding that it was the first time the Cuban leader is attending the summit.