国际英语新闻："New starting point" urged as Americas summit opens in Port of Spain

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The Fifth Summit of the Americas opened here Friday, with economy, energy, the environment, security and Cuba high on the agenda of the three-day event.

Photo taken on April 17, 2009 shows the opening ceremony of the Fifth Summit of the Americas held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

The theme of the summit, which gathered leaders from 34 countries in the hemisphere, is "Securing Our Citizens' Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability."

    President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina, the host of the previous summit, and President Danial Ortega of Nicaragua, Prime Minister Dean Barrow, U.S. President Barack Obama, and Patrick Manning, the prime minister of the host country, Trinidad and Tobago, will be making remarks at the ceremony.

U.S. President Barack Obama (C) attends the opening cermony of the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, April 17, 2009

This is the first time that the Americas summit has been staged in a small country. The previous ones all occurred in larger countries: Miami, the United States, in 1994; Santiago, Chile, 1998; Quebec City, Canada, 2001; and Mar del Plata, Argentina, in 2005.

    Kirchner stressed the importance to "look at a new starting point ... based not on subordination but on coordination and cooperation ... integration but not intervention."

    She urged for the immediate lifting of embargo against Cuba, expressing appreciation for the Obama administration's recent easing of restrictions on Cuban-Americans' travel to Cuba and their remittances sent home.

The honour guard raise flags in front the main venue of the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, April 17, 2009

"All of us today should know that we are facing a historic moment," Kirchner said. "We need to address the problems ... with no rhetoric that in the end only made positions more radicalized."

    Nicaraguan President Ortega, in his remarks, assailed past U.S. policies such as those practiced by former President Ronald Reagan, and called for the inclusion of Cuba back into the Organization of American States.

    In his lengthy deliberation, which lasted about 50 minutes, Ortega complained about his three -hour long wait at the airport Friday afternoon.

    He called for increased financial assistance to help address the immigration problem, blaming it on under-development and poverty.

    

Venezuelan President Chavez arrives at Hyatt Regency Trinidad for the opening ceremony of the Fifth Summit of Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, April 17, 2009.