PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -- -- In order to dig out of the global economic crisis and ensure peace and security in the future, nations must join forces to deliver collective solutions to common problems, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told hemispheric leaders Saturday.

''As a global community, we are living on the edge,'' the U.N. leader said in a lunch speech at the Fifth Summit of the Americas. ``Today's economic crisis, if not handled properly, could evolve into a full-scale political crisis -- defined by social unrest, weakened governments and angry publics who have lost faith in their leaders and their future.''

But, Ban said, that if leaders pull together as ''good neighbors'' the looming problems could be overcome.

''If we are smart about it, if we drive at their inter-connections, solutions to each can be solutions to all,'' he said. ``We can get more bang for our collective dollar, peso and real. We can find effective, efficient, enduring solutions for a more sustainable, inclusive and prosperous future.

''... All of us see the links between economic growth and political stability, democracy and human rights,'' Ban said, ``...collective social and economic security is a basic principle of justice -- global social justice.''

He pointed to the recent Haiti donors' conference in Washington as a good example of nations reaching out to help struggling countries and narrow the gap between rich and poor. He also lauded President Barack Obama's easing of restrictions for Cuban American travel and remittances to the island as ``a sign of changing times, of fresh winds blowing, in ways large and small.''

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