The President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition. The President leads the executive branch of the federal government and is one of only two elected members of the executive branch (the other being the Vice President of the United States).
"The United States seeks a new beginning with Cuba," said President Barack Obama as he the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad Friday. Seemingly stunned at what President Obama said, Latin American leaders reacted slowly with applause.
All of a sudden relations between Cuba and the U.S. seem to be warming and accelerating. Not only did President Obama expand travel rights for Americans who have loved ones on the island, but last night at another summit in Venezuela Raul Castro declared his willingness to negotiate even on topics that were taboo in the past.
Human rights, freedom of the press, and political prisoners, he said, were all fair game if the talks were on equal terms.
President Obama responded in kind: "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. Let me be clear; I am not interested in talking for the sake of talking."
Also this week Obama met with Venezuela's socialist President Hugo Chavez, a Cuban ally and fierce critic of the United States. The two met ahead of the summit's opening ceremonies. The Venezuelan presidency released a photograph of the pair shaking hands and described it as a friendly encounter.
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (pronounced [ˈuɰo rafaˈel ˈtʃaβ̞es ˈfɾias]) (born July 28, 1954) is the current President of Venezuela. As the leader of the Bolivarian Revolution, Chávez promotes a political doctrine of participatory democracy, socialism and Latin American and Caribbean cooperation.He is also a critic of neoliberalism, globalization, and United States foreign policy.
US PRESIDENT : Barack Obama & Chavez are friend?
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