U.S.-Cuba policy takes center stage at Americas summit

The White House advisor to the upcoming Summit of the Americas on Monday confirmed President Barack Obama's intention to ease family travel and remittances to Cuba in coming days and wouldn't rule out a meeting between Obama and Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.

Even as he acknowledged the widespread interest in Cuba and increased pressure to fully lift the U.S. economic embargo, advisor Jeffrey S. Davidow stressed the administration's hope the communist-ruled nation would not dominate next week's gathering of the 34 hemispheric leaders.

''In a way, we believe it would be unfortunate if the principal theme of this meeting turned out to be Cuba,'' Davidow said.

''I think there are a lot of very important issues that warrant discussion, whether it's economic issues, social inclusion, environment or public safety.''

Pressed on whether Washington might go beyond its already stated intent to lift travel restrictions for Cuban Americans, Davidow said U.S. policy toward Cuba is undergoing strategic review.

''We are engaged in a continual evaluation of our policy and how that policy could help result in a change in Cuba that would bring about a democratic society,'' said Davidow, a former ambassador to both Mexico and Venezuela.

VENEZUELA

On Venezuela, Davidow was asked at a media briefing whether a meeting would take place with leftist Chávez.

'' . . . There will be ample opportunities for discussion,'' he said. ''I know the president is going to Trinidad with the desire and the interest to talk to all of his colleagues.''

Should a discussion between Obama and Chávez occur, a key issue is sure to be Cuba.

It's been decades since there was this much of a push to make changes to Cuba policy -- and experts say it's no coincidence that it's happening just before the biggest gathering of hemispheric leaders.

Cuba is the one country in the region that is not a member of the Organization of American States; its membership was suspended in 1962. Yet it's the only nation expected to compete with the global financial crisis for Obama's attention.

Heads of state will gather in Trinidad from April 17 to 19 to discuss issues including trade, the environment and the worldwide recession.

But among the hot topics is mounting pressure to reinstate Cuba's membership to the OAS and lift long-standing sanctions.

POLICY IN SPOTLIGHT

In the coming days, Obama is to announce a change to Cuba policy to allow Cuban Americans annual visits with relatives on the island and send them money as often as they like.

Pressure is mounting for Obama to do more. A procession of Latin American presidents has visited Havana in the past months, publicly underscoring how Washington's policy is out of sync with the rest of the hemisphere. The House and the Senate held back-to-back press events last week to advocate bills that would change Cuba policy. Even a top Republican