By_II Barack_NP1 Obama_NP1 Thursday_NPD1 ,_, April_NPM1 16th_MD 2009_MC As_CSA we_PPIS2 approach_VV0 the_AT Summit_NN1 of_IO the_AT Americas_NP2 ,_, our_APPGE hemisphere_NN1 is_VBZ faced_VVN with_IW a_AT1 clear_JJ choice_NN1 ._. 
We_PPIS2 can_VM overcome_VVI our_APPGE shared_JJ challenges_NN2 with_IW a_AT1 sense_NN1 of_IO common_JJ purpose_NN1 ,_, or_CC we_PPIS2 can_VM stay_VVI mired_VVN in_II the_AT old_JJ debates_NN2 of_IO the_AT past_NN1 ._. 
For_IF the_AT sake_NN1 of_IO all_DB our_APPGE people_NN ,_, we_PPIS2 must_VM choose_VVI the_AT future_NN1 ._. 
Too_RG often_RR ,_, the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 has_VHZ not_XX pursued_VVN and_CC sustained_JJ engagement_NN1 with_IW our_APPGE neighbours_NN2 ._. 
We_PPIS2 have_VH0 been_VBN too_RG easily_RR distracted_VVN by_II other_JJ priorities_NN2 ,_, and_CC have_VH0 failed_VVN to_TO see_VVI that_CST our_APPGE own_DA progress_NN1 is_VBZ tied_VVN directly_RR to_TO progress_VVI throughout_II the_AT Americas_NP2 ._. 
My_APPGE Administration_NN1 is_VBZ committed_VVN to_II renewing_VVG and_CC sustaining_VVG a_AT1 broader_JJR partnership_NN1 between_II the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 and_CC the_AT hemisphere_NN1 on_II31 behalf_II32 of_II33 our_APPGE common_JJ prosperity_NN1 and_CC our_APPGE common_JJ security_NN1 ._. 
We_PPIS2 have_VH0 already_RR begun_VVN to_TO move_VVI in_II a_AT1 new_JJ direction_NN1 ._. 
This_DD1 week_NNT1 ,_, we_PPIS2 amended_VVD a_AT1 Cuba_NP1 policy_NN1 that_CST has_VHZ failed_VVN for_IF decades_NNT2 to_TO advance_VVI liberty_NN1 or_CC opportunity_NN1 for_IF the_AT Cuban_JJ people_NN ._. 
In_RR21 particular_RR22 ,_, the_AT refusal_NN1 to_TO allow_VVI Cuban_JJ Americans_NN2 to_TO visit_VVI or_CC provide_VVI resources_NN2 to_II their_APPGE families_NN2 on_II the_AT island_NN1 made_VVD no_UH sense-particularly_RR after_II years_NNT2 of_IO economic_JJ hardship_NN1 in_II Cuba_NP1 ,_, and_CC the_AT devastating_JJ hurricanes_NN2 that_CST took_VVD place_NN1 last_MD year_NNT1 ._. 
Now_RT ,_, that_DD1 policy_NN1 has_VHZ changed_VVN ._. 
The_AT US-Cuba_NP1 relationship_NN1 is_VBZ one_MC1 example_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 debate_NN1 in_II the_AT Americas_NP2 that_CST is_VBZ too_RG often_RR dragged_VVN back_RP to_II the_AT 20th_MD century_NNT1 ._. 
To_TO confront_VVI our_APPGE economic_JJ crisis_NN1 ,_, we_PPIS2 do_VD0 n't_XX need_VVI a_AT1 debate_NN1 about_II whether_CSW to_TO have_VHI a_AT1 rigid_JJ ,_, state-run_JJ economy_NN1 or_CC unbridled_JJ and_CC unregulated_JJ capitalism-we_PPIS2 need_VV0 pragmatic_JJ and_CC responsible_JJ action_NN1 that_CST advances_VVZ our_APPGE common_JJ prosperity_NN1 ._. 
To_TO combat_VVI lawlessness_NN1 and_CC violence_NN1 ,_, we_PPIS2 do_VD0 n't_XX need_VVI a_AT1 debate_NN1 about_II whether_CSW to_TO blame_VVI right-wing_JJ paramilitaries_NN2 or_CC left-wing_JJ insurgents-we_PPIS2 need_VV0 practical_JJ cooperation_NN1 to_TO expand_VVI our_APPGE common_JJ security_NN1 ._. 
That_DD1 is_VBZ why_RRQ leaders_NN2 from_II Santiago_NP1 to_II Brasilia_NP1 to_II Mexico_NP1 City_NN1 are_VBR focused_VVN on_II a_AT1 renewed_JJ partnership_NN1 of_IO the_AT Americas_NP2 that_CST makes_VVZ progress_NN1 on_II fundamental_JJ issues_NN2 like_II economic_JJ recovery_NN1 ,_, energy_NN1 and_CC security_NN1 ._. 
The_AT global_JJ economic_JJ crisis_NN1 has_VHZ hit_VVN the_AT Americas_NP2 hard_RR ,_, particularly_RR our_APPGE most_RGT vulnerable_JJ populations_NN2 ._. 
Years_NNT2 of_IO progress_NN1 in_II combating_VVG poverty_NN1 and_CC inequality_NN1 hangs_VVZ in_II the_AT balance_NN1 ._. 
The_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 is_VBZ working_VVG to_TO advance_VVI prosperity_NN1 in_II the_AT hemisphere_NN1 by_II jumpstarting_VVG our_APPGE own_DA recovery_NN1 ._. 
In_II doing_VDG so_RR ,_, we_PPIS2 will_VM help_VVI spur_NN1 trade_NN1 ,_, investment_NN1 ,_, remittances_NN2 and_CC tourism_NN1 that_CST provides_VVZ a_AT1 broader_JJR base_NN1 for_IF prosperity_NN1 in_II the_AT hemisphere_NN1 ._. 
We_PPIS2 also_RR need_VV0 collective_JJ action_NN1 ._. 
At_II the_AT G-20_FO Summit_NN1 ,_, the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 pledged_VVD to_TO seek_VVI nearly_RR half_DB a_AT1 billion_NNO dollars_NNU2 in_II immediate_JJ assistance_NN1 for_IF vulnerable_JJ populations_NN2 ,_, while_CS working_VVG with_IW G-20_FO partners_NN2 to_TO set_VVI aside_RL substantial_JJ resources_NN2 to_TO help_VVI countries_NN2 through_II difficult_JJ times_NNT2 ._. 
We_PPIS2 have_VH0 called_VVN upon_II the_AT Inter-American_JJ Development_NN1 Bank_NN1 to_TO maximise_VVI lending_VVG to_TO restart_VVI the_AT flow_NN1 of_IO credit_NN1 ,_, and_CC stand_VV0 ready_JJ to_TO examine_VVI the_AT needs_NN2 and_CC capacity_NN1 of_IO the_AT IDB_NN1 going_VVG forward_RL ._. 
And_CC we_PPIS2 are_VBR working_VVG to_TO put_VVI in_II place_NN1 21st_MD century_NNT1 rules_NN2 of_IO the_AT road_NN1 to_TO prevent_VVI the_AT abuses_NN2 that_CST caused_VVD the_AT current_JJ crisis_NN1 ._. 
While_CS we_PPIS2 confront_VV0 this_DD1 crisis_NN1 ,_, we_PPIS2 must_VM build_VVI a_AT1 new_JJ foundation_NN1 for_IF long-term_JJ prosperity_NN1 ._. 
Our_APPGE hemisphere_NN1 has_VHZ bountiful_JJ natural_JJ resources_NN2 that_CST could_VM make_VVI renewable_JJ energy_NN1 plentiful_JJ and_CC sustainable_JJ ,_, while_CS creating_VVG jobs_NN2 for_IF our_APPGE people_NN ._. 
In_II the_AT process_NN1 ,_, we_PPIS2 can_VM confront_VVI climate_NN1 change_VV0 that_CST threatens_VVZ rising_VVG sea_NN1 levels_NN2 in_II the_AT Caribbean_NP1 ,_, diminishing_VVG glaciers_NN2 in_II the_AT Andes_NP2 ,_, and_CC powerful_JJ storms_NN2 on_II the_AT Gulf_NP1 Coast_NN1 of_IO the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 ._. 
That_DD1 is_VBZ why_RRQ I_PPIS1 look_VV0 forward_RL to_II pursuing_VVG a_AT1 new_JJ Energy_NN1 and_CC Climate_NN1 Partnership_NN1 of_IO the_AT Americas_NP2 that_CST will_VM help_VVI us_PPIO2 learn_VVI from_II one_PPX121 another_PPX122 ,_, share_VV0 technologies_NN2 ,_, leverage_NN1 investment_NN1 and_CC maximise_VV0 our_APPGE comparative_JJ advantage_NN1 ._. 
Just_RR as_CSA we_PPIS2 advance_VV0 our_APPGE common_JJ prosperity_NN1 ,_, we_PPIS2 must_VM advance_VVI our_APPGE common_JJ security_NN1 ._. 
The_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 will_VM strongly_RR support_VVI respect_NN1 for_IF the_AT rule_NN1 of_IO law_NN1 ,_, better_JJR law_NN1 enforcement_NN1 and_CC stronger_JJR judicial_JJ institutions_NN2 ._. 
Security_NN1 must_VM be_VBI advanced_VVN through_II our_APPGE commitment_NN1 to_TO partner_VVI with_IW those_DD2 who_PNQS are_VBR courageously_RR battling_VVG drug_NN1 cartels_NN2 ,_, gangs_NN2 and_CC other_JJ criminal_JJ networks_NN2 throughout_II the_AT Americas_NP2 ._. 
And_CC our_APPGE efforts_NN2 start_VV0 at_II home_NN1 ._. 
By_II reducing_VVG demand_NN1 for_IF drugs_NN2 and_CC curtailing_VVG the_AT illegal_JJ flow_NN1 of_IO weapons_NN2 and_CC bulk_VV0 cash_NN1 south_ND1 across_II our_APPGE border_NN1 ,_, we_PPIS2 can_VM advance_VVI security_NN1 in_II the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 and_CC beyond_RL ._. 
And_CC going_VVG forward_RL ,_, we_PPIS2 will_VM sustain_VVI a_AT1 lasting_JJ dialogue_NN1 in_II the_AT hemisphere_NN1 to_TO ensure_VVI that_CST we_PPIS2 are_VBR building_VVG on_II best_JJT practices_NN2 ,_, adapting_VVG to_II new_JJ threats_NN2 and_CC co-ordinating_VVG our_APPGE efforts_NN2 ._. 
Finally_RR ,_, the_AT summit_NN1 gives_VVZ every_AT1 democratically-elected_JJ leader_NN1 in_II the_AT Americas_NP2 the_AT opportunity_NN1 to_TO reaffirm_VVI our_APPGE shared_JJ values_NN2 ._. 
Each_DD1 of_IO our_APPGE countries_NN2 has_VHZ pursued_VVN its_APPGE own_DA democratic_JJ journey_NN1 ,_, but_CCB we_PPIS2 must_VM be_VBI joined_VVN together_RL in_II our_APPGE commitment_NN1 to_II liberty_NN1 ,_, equality_NN1 and_CC human_JJ rights_NN2 ._. 
That_DD1 is_VBZ why_RRQ I_PPIS1 look_VV0 forward_RL to_II the_AT day_NNT1 when_RRQ every_AT1 country_NN1 in_II the_AT hemisphere_NN1 can_VM take_VVI its_APPGE seat_NN1 at_II the_AT table_NN1 consistent_JJ with_IW the_AT Inter-American_JJ Democratic_JJ Charter_NN1 ._. 
And_CC just_RR as_CSA the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 seeks_VVZ that_DD1 goal_NN1 in_II reaching_VVG out_RP to_II the_AT Cuban_JJ people_NN ,_, we_PPIS2 expect_VV0 all_DB of_IO our_APPGE friends_NN2 in_II the_AT hemisphere_NN1 to_TO join_VVI together_RL in_II supporting_JJ liberty_NN1 ,_, equality_NN1 and_CC human_JJ rights_NN2 for_IF all_DB Cubans_NN2 ._. 
This_DD1 summit_NN1 offers_VVZ the_AT opportunity_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 new_JJ beginning_NN1 ._. 
Advancing_JJ prosperity_NN1 ,_, security_NN1 and_CC liberty_NN1 for_IF the_AT people_NN of_IO the_AT Americas_NP2 depends_VVZ upon_II 21st_MD century_NNT1 partnerships_NN2 ,_, freed_VVN from_II the_AT posturing_NN1 of_IO the_AT past_NN1 ._. 
That_DD1 is_VBZ the_AT leadership_NN1 and_CC partnership_NN1 that_CST the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 stands_VVZ ready_JJ to_TO provide_VVI ._. 
