US official downplays Cuba's invitation to summit

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

US official downplays Cuba's invitation to summit
By KATHIA MARTINEZ, Associated Press | October 8, 2014 | Updated: October 8, 2014 8:13pm

PANAMA CITY (AP) — A senior State Department official said Wednesday that the U.S. is prepared to welcome Cuba for the first time to a region-wide summit but wants heads of state to focus attention on the communist government's human rights record.

At the urging of Latin American leaders, host country Panama plans to invite Cuban President Raul Castro to the Summit of the Americas in April. Cuba was excluded from six previous summits because Washington said it didn't meet the region's standards for democracy and U.S. lawmakers, led by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, are urging Panama to reconsider its invitation this time around.

The deputy assistant secretary of state for Latin America, John Feeley, played down the significance of Cuba's likely participation. Speaking to journalists in Spanish during a stop in Panama on Wednesday, Feeley said that "it's not so important the guests at the table but the meal that's served."

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa boycotted the last summit in Cartagena, Colombia, over Cuba's exclusion and several of his leftist allies have threatened to sit out the next gathering of 34 regional heads of state if Cuba isn't invited to attend.

The Washington-based Organization of American States, which organizes the summits, suspended Cuba shortly after Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/US-official-downplays-Cuba-s-invitation-to-summit-5810429.php

[flamingdem]

1. Some progress!

In spite of the ridiculous Marco Rubio and his schtick.

[whereisjustice]

2. I see, we hate communism so much that we send millions of jobs to PR China - the beacon of

human rights in the modern world. Hell, what would we do with those jobs? Probably feed our own families or some bullshit like that.

If Cuba wants to gain the respect of the US, they first have to let corporations establish factories there and allow them to keep workers in prison like conditions paying them $1 per day.

Nothing brings capitalism and communism together like exploited labor with no civil rights.

[MyNameGoesHere]

3. There is only one country deserving of being banned from summits

and it's not Cuba.

[Adrahil]

4. Look... Cuba is FULL of WTF...

But it's time to end these silly-assed policies of isolation. It doesn't do anyone any good, other than making conservatives feel self-righteous. Normalize relations, open trade, and lift the travel ban. It's that simple.

[jwirr]

5. What a bunch of hypocrits we are. Our biggest trading partner is Communist China but we throw a

fit about a little island just off our shore because they are communists. I am glad they are invited. Should have been years ago. Castro came to us for help (Eisenhower) and we refused. We had our chance then.

[lsewpershad]

6. Why does America

feels it should dictate how the world act..... Latin American leaders should stand up to "bullyism."

[heaven05]

7. "Cuba was excluded from last six summits

because Washington said it didn't meet the regions standards for for democracy". HUH??? WE...THE USA don't meet the standards of any fair and unbiased democracy, ANYMORE. HYPOCRITES AND FOOLS RUN OUR COUNTRY N0W and hundreds of thousands of voters are not allowed to vote based on fascists, racist ideology. That's not democracy in my book. OAS shouldn't let our representatives through the front door either.