“We are ready to talk about everything, with patience,” Castro tells Obama

"We are ready to talk about everything, with patience," Castro tells Obama
EFE/14YMEDIO, Abril 11, 2015

The president of the United States, Barack Obama, today told his Cuban
counterpart, Raul Castro, that "it was time to try something new" in
relation to Cuba, during the historic meeting they held in Panama under
the framework of the Summit of the Americas.

It is the first time in half a century that the presidents of the two
countries have met.

For his part, Raul Castro assured the US president that "we are willing
to talk about everything, but with patience," in the process towards
normalization of bilateral relations.

Moments before the start of the meeting, Obama explained that "The
history between the United States and Cuba is complicated," and, "We are
now in a position to move on a path toward the future." He immediately
said that the majority of Americans and Cubans had "responded
positively" to the process of reestablishing relations, announced last
December 17.

The US president confirmed that there are "profound differences" between
to two countries. "We are willing to talk about everything. The United
States will defend democracy and human rights and Cuba will put on their
table their concerns with respect to US policy, as Mr. Castro did during
his speech," Obama emphasized during a press conference immediately
after the meeting.

Obama went further and ventured that, "And over time, it is possible for
us to turn the page and develop a new relationship between our two
countries."

The two leaders met in room at the Atlapa Convention Center where, on
Friday, the Summit of the Americas got underway, and where Saturday's
sessions have transpired.

The meeting began after the photo session of all the presidents who
participated in the hemispheric forum in which Cuba is participating for
the first time.

Source: "We are ready to talk about everything, with patience," Castro
tells Obama -
http://www.14ymedio.com/englishedition/We-everything-patience-Castro-Obama_0_1759024090.html