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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - US President Barack Obama and Cuba's Raul Castro stood near each other at a historic Summit of the Americas on Friday, marking a major milestone in their efforts to end decades of animosity.

During the summit being held in Panama, the two leaders will hold a historical talks in a bid to renew their diplomatic ties that were severed in 1961.

"This summit in Panama has such a special dimension," Organization of American States Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza, told the gathering noting it was the first time all 35 nations are represented.

While declaring that the days of US meddling in the region were over, Obama promised civil society representatives that the United States will stand up alongside you every step of the way.

"We've stood up, at great cost, for freedom and human dignity, not just in our own country, but elsewhere. I'm proud of that," Obama said, citing the US civil rights movement.

Talks between the two leaders will pave the way to remove Cuba from the US blacklist of state sponsors of terror and would be a major sticking point in negotiations to reopen embassies.

If Obama decides to remove Cuba from the list, Congress will have 45 days to decide whether to override his recommendation.

Cuba has other major demands, most importantly that the US Congress lift an embargo that the communist regime blames for the island's economic troubles.