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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Barack Obama in Cuba to meet Raul Castro | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| President Barack Obama has arrived in Cuba for a historic visit to the island and talks with its communist leader. | |
| He is the first US president to visit since the 1959 revolution, which heralded decades of hostility. | |
| "Looking forward to meeting and hearing directly from the Cuban people," he tweeted on arrival. | |
| Mr Obama will meet President Raul Castro, but not retired revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, and the pair will discuss trade and political reform. | |
| The US president emerged smiling from Air Force One with First Lady Michelle and their daughters Sasha and Malia. | |
| Protesters were arrested in the capital Havana just hours before Mr Obama arrived. | |
| Police took away dozens of demonstrators from the Ladies in White group, formed by wives of political prisoners, from outside a church where they attempt to hold weekly protests. | Police took away dozens of demonstrators from the Ladies in White group, formed by wives of political prisoners, from outside a church where they attempt to hold weekly protests. |
| Six sticking points to better relations | Six sticking points to better relations |
| A new DIY economy in Cuba | A new DIY economy in Cuba |
| Fidel followers remain nervous of thaw | Fidel followers remain nervous of thaw |
| Correspondents say the visit marks a huge turnaround in US-Cuban relations. | Correspondents say the visit marks a huge turnaround in US-Cuban relations. |
| It is hard to overstate the significance of this trip because as recently as 18 months ago, the idea of a US president setting foot on Cuban soil would have been unthinkable, the BBC's North America editor Jon Sopel says. | It is hard to overstate the significance of this trip because as recently as 18 months ago, the idea of a US president setting foot on Cuban soil would have been unthinkable, the BBC's North America editor Jon Sopel says. |
| It represents the opening of a new chapter in the affairs of the two nations, our correspondent says. | |
| Mr Obama and Raul Castro will sit together at a state dinner, there will be a joint news conference and they will discuss trade. | Mr Obama and Raul Castro will sit together at a state dinner, there will be a joint news conference and they will discuss trade. |
| The White House has made it clear President Obama will meet political dissidents, whether the Cuban authorities like it or not. That is expected to include members of the Ladies in White group. | |
| Economic sanctions | Economic sanctions |
| This visit does not mark a complete normalisation in relations, however. | This visit does not mark a complete normalisation in relations, however. |
| The 54-year-old US economic embargo of Cuba is still in place and can only be lifted by a vote in Congress. Meanwhile, Cuba still complains about the occupation of the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay. | The 54-year-old US economic embargo of Cuba is still in place and can only be lifted by a vote in Congress. Meanwhile, Cuba still complains about the occupation of the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay. |
| Nevertheless enormous strides have already been taken, our correspondent says. | Nevertheless enormous strides have already been taken, our correspondent says. |
| Mr Obama and Mr Castro agreed in December 2014 to end decades of frozen relations that began when Cuba's revolution overthrew a pro-US government in 1959. | Mr Obama and Mr Castro agreed in December 2014 to end decades of frozen relations that began when Cuba's revolution overthrew a pro-US government in 1959. |
| Since 2014 there have been commercial deals on telecoms and a scheduled airline service, increased co-operation on law enforcement and environmental protection. | Since 2014 there have been commercial deals on telecoms and a scheduled airline service, increased co-operation on law enforcement and environmental protection. |
| On Wednesday Mr Obama sent a letter on the first direct mail flight from the US to Cuba since the revolution. | On Wednesday Mr Obama sent a letter on the first direct mail flight from the US to Cuba since the revolution. |
| And on Sunday, US hotel company Starwood become the first American firm to agree a deal with the Cuban authorities since 1959. | And on Sunday, US hotel company Starwood become the first American firm to agree a deal with the Cuban authorities since 1959. |
| The US president is not scheduled to meet the man who led the revolution - Fidel Castro - but Cubans were reminded of their historic leader on Sunday as newspapers published pictures of him meeting Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro. | The US president is not scheduled to meet the man who led the revolution - Fidel Castro - but Cubans were reminded of their historic leader on Sunday as newspapers published pictures of him meeting Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro. |
| Analysts suggested the release of the pictures underlines conflicting sentiments within the Communist Party over hosting Mr Obama. | |
| Thaw in US-Cuba relations: | Thaw in US-Cuba relations: |