The 7th Summit of the Americas in 35 Tweets

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks at Opening Ceremony of Seventh Summit of the Organization of American States. Photo: UN account on Flickr used under Creative Commons license.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks at Opening Ceremony of Seventh Summit of the Organization of American States. Photo: UN account on Flickr used under Creative Commons license.

According to the organizers of the Seventh Summit of the Americas, which was held in Panama this year, the event's Twitter account recorded 9 million impressions, making it the first “totally digital summit of the century.”

The summit certainly merited the attention: for the first time in more than half a century, a US president and Cuban head of state sat down together at the diplomatic table. While this meeting was the summit's highlight in international news coverage, the conference didn't take place just to bring together Washington and Havana. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro also met privately with Barack Obama, later saying publicly, “I respect you, but I don't trust you, President Obama.” In March, Obama signed an executive order putting seven Venezuelan officials on a sanctions list.

But the summit was more than any single moment, however historic or tense. To give a better sense of what just happened in Panama, Global Voices has collected and translated 35 different tweets, capturing commentary from each of the countries represented at the summit.

Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda

“We ask for financial policies that respect small countries”, Gaston Browne from Antigua and Barbuda.

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, President of Argentina

I want to congratulate [Colombian President] Juan Manuel Santos for his stubbornness to face the peace process.

Perry Christie, Prime Minister of Bahamas

“Our peoples pursue solutions, let's find practical solutions and let's apply them”, Perry Christie, Prime Minister of the Bahamas.

Freundel Jerome Stuart, Prime Minister of Barbados

“Our cooperation must extend to the area of security”, Prime Minister of Barbados, Freundel Jerome Stuart.

Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belize

“The fundamental weapon we count on in Belize is an educated population,” Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belize.

Evo Morales, President of Bolivia

“[American] President Barack Obama talks us about democracy and every day he sends us his hitmen”, President Evo Morales.

Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil

Dilma concludes: I want to make clear our commitment to regional integration.

Steve Harper, Prime Minister of Canada

“Today, democracy is more than ever the main rule of the hemisphere”, Prime Minister Steve Harper.

Heraldo Muñoz, Chancellor of Chile

“Although we've accomplished a lot, there is still much to be done—the people demand it”, Heraldo Muñoz, Chancellor of Chile.

Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia

Three years ago at the Summit of the Americas, we said there couldn't be another one without Cuba. We celebrate [Cuba's presence] today in Panama.

Luis Guillermo Solis, President of Costa Rica

“God bless our continent and may He enlighten those of us who have to lead it with the path of prosperity.”

Raúl Castro, President of Cuba

“Despite all the things we lack and the difficulties we manage, we go on with the premise of sharing what we have”, President Raul Castro.

Francine Baron, Representative of Dominica

“We support the idea that pursuing a quality education is a responsibility shared by all sectors”.

Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador

We landed in Panama, the Seventh Summit of the Americas. Equity for prosperity, sovereignty, and dignity. For our definite independence.

Salvador Sánchez Cercén, President of El Salvador

In the Summit of Panama we reaffirmed our commitment to working together for peace and prosperity for our continent.

Barack Obama, President of the United States

US President Barack Obama declared at the Summit in Panama that more dynamic work in Latin America is necessary.

Keith Claudius Mitchell, Prime Minister of Granada

“Prosperity with equity is important for the region. Inequality gets reduced with investments in education”, Keith Claudius Mitchell.

Otto Pérez Molina, President of Guatemala

We celebrate that relations between Cuba and United States have been reestablished.

Bayney R. Karran, Representative of Guyana in OAS

“We must provide our youth with the means of social inclusion”, Bayney R. Karran, representative of Guyana in OAS.

Michel Joseph Martelly, President of Haiti

Chiefs of state pictured at the Seventh Summit of the Americas, held in Panama.

Juan Orlando Hernández Alvarado, President of Honduras

“We've come to a good conclusion with Guatemala about establishing a customs union between both countries”, President Juan Orlando Hernández.

Portia Simpson-Miller, Prime Minister of Jamaica

“Climate change represents a clear danger to our society”, Portia Simpson Miller, Jamaica.

Enrique Peña Nieto, President of México

The Summit in Panama is an excellent opportunity to active inclusive and an innovative dialogue between the participant nations.

Daniel Ortega, President of Nicaragua

Daniel Ortega, President of Nicaragua, talks about the absence of Puerto Rico in the Summit in Panama.

Juan Carlos Varela, President of Panama

Let's walk along together and work for that prosperity with equity for every citizen in our continent.

Elisa Ruiz Díaz, Ambassador to Paraguay in OAS:

“We work towards conciliation and dialogue for all nations”, Ambassador of Paraguay, Elisa Ruiz Díaz.

Ollanta Humala, President of Peru

President Ollanta Humala: “We must make quality education accessible to all.”

Danilo Medina, President of Dominican Republic

“Drug trafficking is a cancer and we shall not allow it to move forward”, Danilo Medina, President of the Dominican Republic.

Mark Brantley, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis:

“Development is based on education and equality among peoples”, Mark Brantley, Saint Kiits and Nevis.

Ralph Gonsalvez, President of de Saint Vicent and the Grenadines:

“It's encouraging that the first steps to reestablish relations between Cuba and United States have been taken”, Ralph Gonsalvez.

Kenny Anthony, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia:

“The paramount solution to poverty is not money but knowledge,” Prime Minister Kenny Anthony.

Niermala Badrising, Ambassador of Surinam to OAS:

“We reaffirm the importance of dialogue to contribute to peace in Venezuela,” Ambassador Niermala Badrising.

Kamia Persad-Bissesar, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago:

“That Cuba is present here today is a proof that we're turning an important page in the history books,” Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Tabaré Vázquez, President of Uruguay

“We call upon our Venezuelan brothers to solve their problems through dialogue,” Tabaré Vásquez, President of Uruguay.

Nicolás Maduro, President of Venezuela

I respect you, but don't trust you, President Obama. I hold out your hand so as to solve the disagreements we may have.

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