Cuba Talk Dominates Summit of the Americas
As expected, Latin-American leaders at the Summit of the Americas spoke of the US ending the embargo with Cuba. According to the Politico:
Prime Minister Barrow of Belize makes Cuba an issue, too. He calls for “the formal integration” of Cuba into the group and for the United States to lift the embargo.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega praised Castro and said the U.S. was punishing Cuba. “And just because of that I cannot feel comfortable attending this summit,” Ortega said. “I feel ashamed that I am attending this summit with the absence of Cuba.”
Argentine President Cristina Kirchner brought up Cuba’s expulsion from the group of leaders, calls on Obama to lift the embargo, and attacks the “Washington consensus” that has harmed the Americas.
However the leaders didn’t blame President Obama, they mostly spoke highly of the new leader. Daniel Ortega said:
“President Obama was born on August 4, 1961,” he read. “He was three-and-a-half months old.” He continued: “Obviously he doesn’t have any responsibility for that historic event.”