PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -- The first full day of the Summit of the Americas began with a gift during President Barack Obama's Saturday morning meeting with Andean nations: Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez walked over to Obama and handed him a book, in Spanish.

The book, Las Venas Abiertas de America Latina (The Open Veins of Latin America) by Eduardo Galeano is described by an unidentified Chilean delegate, as 'an academic book that is the basis for the 60s-era `dependency theory' that Latin America depends on the North,'' according to the White House media pool report.

Obama's response to the gift: ''I thought it was one of Chávez's books,'' he said. ''I was going to give him one of mine.'' The event began with Obama seated at the head of a U-shaped table. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet sat to his right. Chávez was at the far end of the table, on Obama's left.

Obama chatted amiably with other leaders and assorted delegation members before the official business began, many of whom wanted to pose for pictures with him. The American president spent considerable time talking with the Chilean president, as well as President Elías ''Tony'' Saca of El Salvador.

Among Obama's admirers was the Panamanian singer and actor Ruben Blades, who spoke at length with the president and was photographed with him. Blades told reporters that he was part of the official delegation from Panama.

The evening before, Chávez and Obama shared a handshake. Chávez also told Obama, according to the Venezuelan government, ``I want to be your friend.''

Asked later what he said to Chávez, Obama said he asked: Como estas? -- How are you?

Obama ended his first day in Trinidad with a 20-minute bilateral meeting with Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning. It was followed by a meeting with other Caribbean leaders.

The main focus was the impact of the financial crisis on small island nations in the Caribbean. Manning and Obama also discussed trade, the importance of energy -- Trinidad and Tobago provides more than 60 percent of U.S. natural gas consumption -- and drug trafficking. Leaders of the 14-member Caribbean Community, which includes Trinidad and Tobago, also focused their conversation on the economy, climate change and security.

''Caribbean countries expressed a great interest in a stronger partnership with the United States on security issues, relating particularly to concerns on drug trafficking,'' a senior White House official said. ``The President noted ... a strong willingness to partner with these countries to address this common concern.''

They spoke about Cuba as well.

'' The President reiterated what he had said in his remarks earlier in the evening, in terms of his interest in a new relationship with Cuba, but making clear that he's made his first step in terms of significant promotion of a new policy in terms of the lifting of restrictions on remittances and travel of Cuban Americans,'' the official said. ``And that now what we need to see is change coming from the other side. ''

Caribbean leaders also spoke about the need to do more about their poorest member state, Haiti. The president said he shared their concerns about doing more to help Haiti, and spoke of the importance of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's trip to that nation this week, the White House official said.

Join the discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.repliedToText@

@Nyx.replyAnswerText@

Reply to this Comment @Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@