Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/cuba-open-to-diplomatic-talks-with-united-states Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript In a significant policy shift, Cuban leader Raul Castro signaled that Havana is open to new diplomatic talks with the United States. Analysts examined the move as President Obama arrived in Trinidad and Tobago for the Summit of the Americas. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. RAY SUAREZ: President Obama landed in Trinidad this afternoon for the Summit of the Americas, a gathering of leaders from 34 nations in the Western Hemisphere.Much of the focus at the weekend meeting, however, will be on a country that was not invited: Cuba, the hemisphere's only un-elected government.Earlier this week, President Obama eased travel restrictions and limits on remittances to the island by Cuban-Americans. A complete ban remains in place for most other Americans.At a joint news conference with Mexican President Felipe Calderon yesterday in Mexico City, Mr. Obama said the ball was now in Cuba's court. U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: We don't expect them to change overnight; that would be unrealistic. But we do expect that Cuba will send signals that they're interested in liberalizing in such a way that not only do U.S.-Cuban relations improve, but so that the energy, and creativity, and initiative of the Cuban people can potentially be released. RAY SUAREZ: Cuban President Raul Castro responded late yesterday at a meeting of leftist Latin American leaders in Venezuela, saying he was open to talks with the U.S. about "everything."RAUL CASTRO, president of Cuba (through translator): We have sent word to the North American government in private and in public that we are ready when they want to discuss everything: human rights, freedom of the press, political prisoners, everything, everything, everything they want to discuss, but on equal terms, without a single shadow over our sovereignty and without the smallest violation of the rights of the Cuban people to govern themselves. RAY SUAREZ: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today the U.S. welcomed Castro's "overtures" and was considering a response. And the head of the Organization of American States said he would push for Cuba to be readmitted to the OAS, after 47 years, when the group meets in May.