Obama: "new beginning" with Cuba

President Obama has been photographed shaking the hand of Venezuela's anti-American leader Hugo Chavez at Summit of the Americas in Trinidad - a moment of considerable symbolism after years of antagonism and outright hostility.

Mr Chavez's office was quick to distribute a picture of the pair smiling and clasping hands during the encounter, which came shortly after regional leaders arrived for the 34-nation summit.

The Venezuelan leader's office said that he wanted things to change between their two nations. "I want to be your friend," Mr Chavez told his counterpart.

The move came as Mr Obama also announced he was seeking a "new beginning" with Cuba, and was willing to work with its government on issues ranging from human rights to migration and the economy.

The cordial encounter comes as a surprise after Mr Chavez's recent criticism of the US leader. At an international conference in Doha earlier this month, he said of US policy: “It’s a policy of permanent aggression, of war, of terrorism by the US empire. That's the great guilty one, the great Satan."

He also has been critical of Mr Obama, including calling him “ignorant" last month. In addition, the leaders had a fresh stand-off on Thursday night, when the Venezuelan leader said he would veto the draft declaration of the summit over US policy towards Cuba.

Shortly after that announcement, White House officials said there would be no one-on-one meeting between the pair during the weekend summit. However, Press Secretary Robin Gibbs later said that, if Mr Chavez tapped Mr Obama on the shoulder, they would have a conversation.

Despite apparent hostility towards the US, Mr Chavez's public stance on Mr Obama varies frequently and he has also spoken of his openness to talks and an improvement in relations with the new administration.

Mr Obama, for his part, has spoken of his desire to reach out to a region neglected during eight years of US preoccupation with the War on Terror. Fred Lash, a State Department official, told The Times that the US "wanted to listen, to evaluate what others have to say as opposed to us going in with an agenda".

Whether the encounter between the pair will forestall harsh words during meetings between 34 leaders over the weekend remains to be seen.

Cuba remains a key issue of contention with leaders speaking at the opening ceremony demanding a complete lifting of the US embargo.

However, Mr Obama reiterated his desire to improve relations with Havana. "I know there is a longer journey that must be travelled in overcoming decades of mistrust, but there are critical steps we can take toward a new day," he said

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