Hosts and U.S. secretary of state emphasize Summit of the Americas preparations and debate over invitations

Dominican officials and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed preparations for the Summit of the Americas, to be held in December in Punta Cana, and addressed the question of which governments will be invited.

The Dominican president (name not specified in transcript) said the summit is important to "strengthen regional integration as a road for the social and economic development of our peoples always marked by democracy, freedom, and the respect for the fundamental values that unite us." He asked for a successful summit that advances integration.

Rubio said the United States will "do everything possible for the summit to be successful" and urged the region to join democratic governments to discuss shared challenges and opportunities. During later exchanges with reporters he criticized the governments of Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua for human-rights abuses and said their actions have contributed to regional instability. At the same time Rubio acknowledged that "the decision who to invite lies with the Dominican Republic," the host country, and that host-country invitation choices are the Dominican government's responsibility.

Neither official announced an invitation list or binding exclusions. Rubio said he hopes the summit will bring democratic governments together to address regional security, migration and economic issues and that the United States will work to support a successful meeting.