Obama on Cuba: Time for Something New

PANAMA — President Obama and President Raúl Castro of Cuba met here Saturday, in the first face-to-face discussion between the leaders of the two countries in a half century. Seated beside Mr. Castro in a small room in the convention center downtown where the summit was being held, Mr. Obama called the event “an historic meeting.” The president cast his decision to seek normalized relations with Cuba after 50 years of estrangement a bid to reverse a failed policy. “It was time for us to try something new,” Mr. Obama said. “We are now in a position to move on a path toward the future.” He added: ”Over time, it is possible for us to turn the page and develop a new relationship between our two countries.” NYT