3/4/2009

Ambassador Jeffrey Davidow described President Obama's approach as one of "openness" and added that the administration is conscious of the widespread perception, whether fair or not, that "the United States talks more than it listens."

The forum-"Summit of the Americas: Prospects and Possibilities"-was sponsored by the Council of the Americas and featured Ambassador Davidow in Washington along with Ambassador Heraldo Munoz, Chile's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, linked by videoconference from New York.

In his remarks, Ambassador Munoz pointed to the credibility and political capital President Obama enjoys in Latin America and the Caribbean, and underscored the opportunity for a new start in terms of U.S. relations with the region. "Many have observed that perhaps this is a second chance like we haven't had since the Kennedy administration," he said.

Both speakers noted that the global economic crisis will be a leading concern when the 34 Heads of State and Government meet from April 17 to 19 in Port of Spain.

Ambassador Munoz said that beyond the formal agenda, the economy is the key topic that needs to be discussed. In a region that has seen strong growth in recent years, countries are concerned that even though they didn't cause the economic crisis, they will feel its impact. "If we as a region grow only at 1 percent, we will be losing about four million jobs," he said, adding that even that growth rate may be optimistic.

The central theme of the Fifth Summit of the Americas is "Securing Our Citizens' Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability." At the forum today, Ambassador Davidow talked about the need to address the problem of persistent poverty in the region and to increase cooperation among groups of nations on a "green agenda."

A number of diplomats from the region were among those attending the forum, including Trinidad and Tobago's Consul General in New York, Harold Robertson.