Leaders at Summit of the Americas Voice Regional Concerns

The future of US/Cuban relations has grabbed most of the headlines during the Summit of the Americas in Panama City, but on Saturday, April 11, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro seemed to offer an olive branch to US President Barack Obama, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported, citing AP sources. The relationship between the two countries has sunk to new lows, but Maduro said he would like to see that change, if current US sanctions are removed.

Obama didn’t hear him, however. He was with Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos, congratulating the country on its overall progress. Meanwhile, Bolivia’s president, Evo Morales, noted in his speech that people in his country and the Latin American continent don’t want any more wars — they would much prefer simple, basic public services.

This footage shows short snippets of the leaders during Saturday’s plenary session. Credit: YouTube/Cumbre Panamá