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Obama and Raúl Castro Meet in Pivotal Moment in U.S.-Cuba Thaw Obama and Raúl Castro Meet in Cuba, a Pivotal Moment in Relations
(about 1 hour later)
HAVANA — President Obama and President Raúl Castro of Cuba appeared together on Monday morning, walking side by side at a welcoming ceremony to start the first official talks between their two governments after decades of Cold War animosity. HAVANA — The leaders of the United States and Cuba made history on Monday, meeting for the first official talks between their governments in decades.
The leaders are expected to discuss a path toward normalizing relations, and the profound differences that still divide them economically and politically, including the United States trade embargo on Cuba and human rights issues. In a colorful welcome ceremony in the Cuban capital, President Obama and his host, President Raúl Castro, strolled amicably past an honor guard and assembled dignitaries.
During the welcoming ceremony at the Palace of the Revolution, the two leaders shook hands warmly before inspecting a military honor guard. The leaders are expected to discuss a path toward normalizing relations, a shift begun in late 2014 when, in a stunning announcement, they embarked on a restoration of full diplomatic relations.
Both men are venturing into diplomatic territory that had eluded their predecessors, amid mutual mistrust dating from Theodore Roosevelt’s charge up San Juan Hill to the Cuban missile crisis and beyond. Profound differences still divide the two nations economically and politically, including the United States trade embargo and Cuban human rights issues.
American officials said Mr. Obama planned to raise the issue of Cuba’s repressive tactics, on display in the days leading up to the president’s visit as the government detained dissidents who could cause a diversion from the official script.
The Cubans, accustomed to exerting tight control over everything that happens on the island, have spent weeks admonishing citizens against disrupting Mr. Obama’s visit or questioning government authority during the trip.
During the welcoming ceremony at the Palace of the Revolution on Monday, the leaders shook hands warmly before inspecting a military honor guard.
Mr. Obama appeared to make a point of walking over to the Cuban military band leader as the ceremony concluded to congratulate him on its performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” — a national anthem that is unlikely to be in its repertoire.Mr. Obama appeared to make a point of walking over to the Cuban military band leader as the ceremony concluded to congratulate him on its performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” — a national anthem that is unlikely to be in its repertoire.
“Good job,” Mr. Obama was overheard saying.“Good job,” Mr. Obama was overheard saying.
Mr. Obama also shook hands with an array of American and Cuban officials, who were lined up on opposite sides of the narrow room. Mr. Obama also shook hands with an array of American and Cuban officials, who were lined up on opposite sides of the long, narrow room.
The choreography of Monday’s session has preoccupied the American and Cuban governments for weeks. Both are determined to showcase a new dynamic of friendship and engagement while insisting they have conceded none of their principles.The choreography of Monday’s session has preoccupied the American and Cuban governments for weeks. Both are determined to showcase a new dynamic of friendship and engagement while insisting they have conceded none of their principles.
White House officials were still not sure in the final hours before the meeting whether there would be a question-and-answer session with journalists afterward, a standard element of Mr. Obama’s visits with foreign leaders but one to which Mr. Castro does not submit.White House officials were still not sure in the final hours before the meeting whether there would be a question-and-answer session with journalists afterward, a standard element of Mr. Obama’s visits with foreign leaders but one to which Mr. Castro does not submit.
American officials said Mr. Obama planned to raise the issue of Cuba’s repressive tactics, on display in the days leading up to the president’s visit as the government detained dissidents who could cause a diversion from the official script. Monday’s session was the presidents’ third face-to-face meeting since the new policy was announced in December 2014.
The Cubans, accustomed to exerting tight control over everything that happens on the island, have spent weeks admonishing citizens against disrupting Mr. Obama’s visit or questioning government authority during the trip.
The leaders’ encounter is their third face-to-face meeting since they announced a restoration of diplomatic relations in December 2014.
They met and shook hands in April 2015 at a summit meeting of Western Hemisphere nations in Panama City, and they spoke in September on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, when Mr. Obama told Mr. Castro he would like to visit this year if the conditions were right.They met and shook hands in April 2015 at a summit meeting of Western Hemisphere nations in Panama City, and they spoke in September on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, when Mr. Obama told Mr. Castro he would like to visit this year if the conditions were right.
Before he met with Mr. Castro on Monday, the president laid a wreath at the memorial to José Martí, a journalist and poet whose ideals are invoked with zeal in both Miami and Havana. Before his talks with Mr. Castro on Monday, the president laid a wreath at the memorial to José Martí, a journalist and poet whose ideals are invoked with zeal in both Miami and Havana.
Martí is that rare descendant whom both sides of a feuding family claim as their own. Or, as Achy Obejas, the Cuban-American novelist, put it: “He’s a little like the Bible: Whatever you want to find support for, there’s usually a little something in his work that will reflect your desire.”Martí is that rare descendant whom both sides of a feuding family claim as their own. Or, as Achy Obejas, the Cuban-American novelist, put it: “He’s a little like the Bible: Whatever you want to find support for, there’s usually a little something in his work that will reflect your desire.”
“Want some really gripping anti-imperialist words implicating the U.S. as a bully? Got it,” she said. “Want some poetry exalting individual freedom? Got it. A little anti-racism? No problem. Warnings about dictators? Here it is.”“Want some really gripping anti-imperialist words implicating the U.S. as a bully? Got it,” she said. “Want some poetry exalting individual freedom? Got it. A little anti-racism? No problem. Warnings about dictators? Here it is.”
In the afternoon, Mr. Obama will attend an event with American business leaders and Cuban entrepreneurs who are making money outside the state-run system. In Havana on Monday, many Cubans still seemed uncertain about whether they had permission to try to see Mr. Obama, nevermind express a point of view. Cubans all over the city seemed to be constantly asking where Mr. Obama would be — and then not going.
Later, Mr. Obama and the first lady, Michelle Obama, were to return to the palace for a state dinner hosted by Mr. Castro. Outside the venue at the edge of Old Havana where the president was scheduled to meet with American business leaders and Cuban entrepreneurs in the afternoon, most of the people waiting for his arrival were foreign tourists.
When asked questions about Mr. Obama’s visit, several Cubans outside a small store with a view of the location turned away without saying a word. State security agents — some uniformed, others wearing jeans and mirrored sunglasses — simply watched and listened.
A few blocks away, Cubans and foreigners found themselves running into American lawmakers and V.I.P.s touring the city.
Senator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont was spotted by the cathedral; Representative Charles B. Rangel of New York was also easy to find. Walking the streets with a single aide, wearing a seersucker suit and a Tampa Bay Rays baseball cap, Mr. Rangel said he could not have been happier. He spent decades in Congress working to end the Cuban embargo.
He said he was confident that restored relations would yield benefits for Cubans and Americans.
”I never knew we could bring such a crack in the wall,” he said. “We’re creating the right conditions for when change really comes.”