Our Man in Panama

Former President Bill Clinton grabs the spotlight away from the current POTUS (while he was making private phone calls to Cuba's dictator) by saying all the expected things at the Civil Society Forum;

"The people are entitled to have their voices heard and to have their dreams come true," he said. "The key to success in the 21st century is cooperation with inclusion."

And Panama's leader chimed in;

President Juan Carlos Varela, urged countries of the American continents to strengthen their institutions of civil society to have stronger nations.
"No strong country exists without strong civil societies," he said.

In his speech, Varela called for dialogue to "find peaceful solutions to the problems of our people" regardless of political differences, and in turn to strengthen mechanisms for participation.

"Governments should not be afraid of the empowerment of civil society, which is called to exercise a supervisory role of governance so that the resources of the state are administered with transparency and public servants act in accordance with the law and are held accountable to the population," he said.

Then why did Cuba get invited to the Summit of the Americas? And is anyone surprised at their boorish behavior;

PRO-CASTRO CUBANS PROTEST

The event was delayed for more than half an hour due to protests outside.
Pro-government Cuban groups left the meeting, saying they couldn't be in the same room with "terrorists of so-called civil societies”

From Havana, Cuban Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel said that it is "unacceptable" for dissident groups to be involved in the event, saying they are not legitimate representatives of Cuban civil society but "mercenaries" hired to oppose the government.

That's the spirit of civility!