In the business of international diplomacy, handshakes are par for the course for senior politicians and diplomats. Barely a week goes by it seems without our TV news bulletins reporting on a summit of sorts, only for it to end with leaders lined up outside together posing for the cameras. 

The participants laugh, they smile and – of course – they shake each other’s hands. From meetings of the G8 to that of finance ministers gathering in Brussels, it’s a run of the mill formula which  I think most viewers at home (including me!) find boring. By all means shake hands behind closed doors, but please don’t make a big thing of it in front of the TV cameras.  

But in amongst the sea of annoying handshakes, there is one that has caught my attention this weekend – that between US president Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro – at the Summit of the Americas in Panama City. It’s significant of course because the leaders of these two countries haven’t met in more than 50 years and therefore (as an exception to my rule) it is a handshake worth celebrating.  

Whatever your views on the political systems in place in the two countries (both have their faults in my opinion),  I am a firm believer in dialogue. How can you possibly hope to settle your differences if you don’t talk?  

I admire Obama for picking up the phone to Castro back in December and declaring Washington’s stance on Havana as “outdated”. Things had been at loggerheads since the US broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1959 when Raul, led by his brother Fidel, toppled US-backed President Fulgencio Batista and a revolutionary socialist state was established.  

Since then US citizens have faced travel restrictions making it hard for them to visit the Caribbean island just 90 miles from Florida and Cuba has also been slapped with a trade embargo. While Obama’s December intervention eased things (flight links from the US to Havana are already being improved and certain products can be imported), the stark fact is that the summit opened with Cuba still being classed as a state sponsor of terrorism. 

While it’s possible to get caught up on the detail,  I think it’s laughable that an island with no real powerful international allies (Venezuela, it’s closest friend is facing the worst economic crisis for decades and its old ally Russia doesn’t seem that interested in what it is up to these days) could be seen as any significant threat to the world. Cuba should be removed from the terror list and sanctions dropped. 

I was very enthused from my visit to Cuba earlier this year. As you will see from the blogs I wrote for Pastinthepresent.net I was positive about how individuals are making the most of the changing political environment. Those that are entrepreneurial are building better lives for themselves through opening restaurants and guesthouses. They won’t become millionaires overnight, but if they can make their enterprises succeed they will achieve a greater standard of living than if they rely on a state salary of $20 a month.  

Of course,  I am not saying things are perfect in Havana – and the US certainly has its problems as well – given that an unknown number of dissidents are in prison and a family dynasty has absolute control of the country. But the fact that the two leaders have met is a positive step forwards. Let’s hope this weekend’s handshake is the start of much better relations between the two countries.