Summit of the Americas opens with historic handshake

Barack Obama and Raul Castro shook hands at the opening of the Summit of the Americas in Panama City, marking the first time in more than 50 years that a US and Cuban leader have attended an official event together.’

Deutsche Welle, 11 April 2015

US President Barack Obama and Cuban leader Raul Castro shook hands on Friday at a summit in Panama, a public gesture of mutual respect as the pair seek torestore diplomatic ties.

"At the Summit of the Americas this evening, President Obama and President Castro greeted each other and shook hands," said Bernadette Meehan, spokesperson for the National Security Council.

A White House official said, however, the pair did not have a "substantive conversation."

Castro's attendance marks the first time that Cuba has taken part in the Summit of the Americas in its 21-year history.

It also marked the first time that a US and Cuban leader had attended an official gathering together since relations between the two nations broke down in 1961.

The opening ceremony of the Summit
of the Americas in Panama City

Heads of state and government from the region, including Obama and Castro, will address the two-day event.

Feel-good factor

Before the talks opened, Castro could be seen laughing and chatting with Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela and his wife on his arrival.

Obama also appeared to be in good spirits when he entered shortly after the Cuban leader, smiling and waving before turning to talk to Varela.

DW Washington correspondent Richard Walker retweeted the moment the two leaders shook hands at the start of the event:

The handshake of Panama. Captured by @madeleintlSUR #CumbreDeLasAmericas #cumbrePanama #ObamaCastro pic.twitter.com/z2Mxmk5IaD
— Richard Walker (@rbsw) 11 april 2015

A formal state dinner is scheduled to follow the opening ceremony.

A historic direct meeting between the two is planned on Saturday, the second and final day of the summit.

Diplomatic roadmap

In December, Obama and Castro agreed to open the door to diplomacy and begin the process of improving relations.

However, Cuba had insisted that it be removed from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism before things could move forward, something which the US State Department said this week was "under review."

Earlier Friday, Obama met with Cuban dissidents as part of a civil society forum.

"As the United States begins a new chapter in our relationship with Cuba, we hope it will create an environment that improves the lives of the Cuban people," he said.

"Not because it's imposed by us, the United States, but through the talent and ingenuity and aspirations, and the conversation among Cubans from all walks of life," he added.

The summit, held every three years, has a central theme this year of "Prosperity with Equity: The Challenge of Cooperation in the Americas."

lw/cmk (AFP, dpa)

US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro shake hands

 during their meeting at the Summit of the Americas in Panama City, Panama,

Saturday, April 11, 2015. The leaders of the United States and Cuba held their

 first formal meeting in more than half a century on Saturday, clearing the way

 for a normalization of relations that had seemed unthinkable to both Cubans

and Americans for generations. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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"Recalibration of Knowledge" – Jan 14, 2012 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll) - (Subjects: Channelling, God-Creator, Benevolent Design, New Energy, Shift of Human Consciousness, (Old) Souls, Reincarnation, Gaia, Old Energies (Africa, Terrorists, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela ... ), Weather, Rejuvenation, Akash, Nicolas Tesla / Einstein, Cold Fusion, Magnetics, Lemuria, Atomic Structure (Electrons, Particles, Polarity, Self Balancing, Magnetism), Entanglement, "Life is necessary for a Universe to exist and not the other way around", DNA, Humans (Baby getting ready, First Breath, Stem Cells, Embryonic Stem Cells, Rejuvenation), Global Unity, ... etc.) - (Text Version)

“…  I want you to watch some countries. I don't have a clock [this statement is Kryon telling us that there is no time frame on his side of the veil, only potentials]. I'll just tell you, it's imminent [in Spirit's timing, this could mean as soon as a decade]. I want you to watch some countries carefully for changes. You're going to be seeing changes that are obvious, and some that are not obvious [covert or assumptive]. But the obvious ones you will see sooner than not - Cuba, Korea [North], Iran, of course, and Venezuela. I want you to watch what happens when they start to realize that they don't have any more allies on Earth! Even their brothers who used to support them in their hatred of some are saying, "Well, perhaps not anymore. It doesn't seem to be supporting us anymore." Watch the synchronicities that are occurring. The leaders who have either died or are going to in the next year or so will take with them the old ways. Watch what happens to those who take their place, and remember these meetings where I described these potentials to you. …”

"The End of History" -  Nov 20, 2010 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll)

" ... South America and the New Energy

South America is starting to consider the same thing. My partner was just there and I allowed him to see the energy of the potential future in that land.

I would like to paint history for you regarding South America. There was a time when every single country had a dictator. Less than 15 years ago, they had failing economies and currencies that were worthless. Trouble and strife and killings were the norm. Marauding drug lords openly killed in the streets and corruption was everywhere. Even the politicians created fear and many disappeared overnight, never to be seen again. Today it isn't that way. Today, there is an ongoing stability as one country after another brings a new, positive, stable energy to their cultures. So, without a concentrated effort by any kind of multi-national leadership or direction, how could this have changed in only 15 years?

Within the entire continent, there's only one dictator left. What's happening? If you think that's amazing, there is a move afoot that you're not going to hear about yet. But they're discussing it right now, so let me tell you what they're thinking. "What would happen if we took these countries and eliminated the borders?" Sound familiar? They're talking about it. In back rooms where nobody is reporting it, they're saying, "What about a plan of eventually having one currency from the top of Columbia to the bottom of Chile? And we would be strong and we would be unified." And dear ones, I'm here to tell you, that it's going to work, and it might not take 50 years. Soon the one dictator will be gone, and the unification can begin.

There's a shift happening on this planet ...."