Generations of distrust between the U.S. and Cuba could begin to fade away today as their presidents meet face to face for the first time since the height of the Cold War.
The historic gathering offers Barack Obama and Raul Castro the chance to infuse fresh momentum into their efforts to restore normal relations between their countries.
Anticipation of an Obama-Castro meeting has been steadily building throughout this week's Summit of the Americas in Panama City. It reached a fever pitch Friday evening when the two traded handshakes and cordial greetings at the summit.
Raising the stakes even further for the two leaders was mounting speculation that Obama would use an expected meeting Saturday to announce his decision to remove Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.
U.N. Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon is praising presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro for moving to restore U.S.-Cuban diplomatic relations after decades of hostility. Â (AP)
