Today, leaders from the 34-member Organization of American States met in Trinidad for the Summit of the Americas.

These are 34 countries with democratically elected officials, so that, of course, doesn’t include Cuba…

Yet.

President Obama recently announced an easing of the travel restrictions between the United States and Cuba, though he didn’t go so far as to lift the trade embargo…

Yet.

But this thaw in relations is being looked at positively by all Latin American nations, and many hope that discussions about the “exiled” country will be much more open and fruitful during this Summit. Cuba herself is open to discussions.

Raul Castro, Cuba’s president, said in a statement made in Venezuela at a conference meant to counter the Summit of the Americas, “We are willing to discuss everything, human rights, freedom of press, political prisoners, everything, everything, everything they want to talk about, but as equals, without the smallest shadow cast on our sovereignty, and without the slightest violation of the Cuban people’s right to self-determination.”

The move to warmer relations is welcomed by both the United States and Cuba, but both acknowledge that it will take a lot of time and mutual respect before Cuba is officially back in the fold.