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| Castro defends Cuba: 'Not one country' complies with all human rights – live | Castro defends Cuba: 'Not one country' complies with all human rights – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 8.28pm GMT | |
| 20:28 | |
| It’s not all diplomacy and history in Havana. It’s also skateboarding. | |
| My colleague Laurence Mathieu-Léger met four Cuban skateboarders in the city who talked about the rigid ways of Cuban society, about art and protest, and the freedoms (including to skateboard) abroad. “One of the things that’s most clear to me is that I want to keep skateboarding, just not here.” | |
| 8.16pm GMT | |
| 20:16 | |
| Lisa O'Carroll | |
| Back out in Havana, Lisa O’Carroll has found wifi in one of the few places around the city that provides it … a public park. | |
| Teenagers have swept into the park to take advantage of its free internet, followed by journalists who have strayed from the presidential press pack. A German journalist, Simon Kiesche, is here sending his video of Barack Obama from the park. “The system that you can only get Internet in a public park I have never seen before and I have worked all over the world.” | |
| Until last year, internet was largely only available to tourists, officials, or through an extremely expensive pay-per-minute system in designated locations. Many of the new US initiatives are aimed at opening the country to telecoms, and Obama declared earlier today: “In the 21st century countries cannot be successful unless their citizens have access to the internet.” | |
| 8.00pm GMT | |
| 20:00 | |
| Most Americans support ending the embargo with Cuba, the Pew Research Center has found, in a report just published about the rapprochement. It’s findings are summarized below: | |
| Related: Obama’s Cuba visit is latest step towards ‘new alliance of the Americas’ | |
| 7.55pm GMT | 7.55pm GMT |
| 19:55 | 19:55 |
| The White House press corps seizes on a surreal moment in modern diplomacy: a few seconds of photo-op staging not meant for the internet era. | The White House press corps seizes on a surreal moment in modern diplomacy: a few seconds of photo-op staging not meant for the internet era. |
| Extraño momento entre @BarackObama y Raúl Castro al término de la conferencia de prensa conjunta en La Habana pic.twitter.com/9b6kIAMnb9 | |
| Updated | |
| at 8.12pm GMT | |
| 7.44pm GMT | 7.44pm GMT |
| 19:44 | 19:44 |
| The presidential visit now diverges for a few hours. First lady Michelle Obama is meeting with young Cubans “to talk about their experiences and hopes for the future”, according to the American embassy in Havana – which is still a novelty there. | The presidential visit now diverges for a few hours. First lady Michelle Obama is meeting with young Cubans “to talk about their experiences and hopes for the future”, according to the American embassy in Havana – which is still a novelty there. |
| Michelle Obama se reunió con jóvenes cubanas para hablar de sus experiencias y esperanzas para el futuro pic.twitter.com/UzxdEDmfmm | Michelle Obama se reunió con jóvenes cubanas para hablar de sus experiencias y esperanzas para el futuro pic.twitter.com/UzxdEDmfmm |
| And Barack Obama will head to an event meant to encourage business and entrepreneurs, at which Spanish American chef Jose Andres has been spotted by a member of the White House press corps. | And Barack Obama will head to an event meant to encourage business and entrepreneurs, at which Spanish American chef Jose Andres has been spotted by a member of the White House press corps. |
| That's @chefjoseandres on stage here in Havana at the entrepreneur summit Obama's about to attend pic.twitter.com/j8Wx4BIkNT | That's @chefjoseandres on stage here in Havana at the entrepreneur summit Obama's about to attend pic.twitter.com/j8Wx4BIkNT |
| 7.29pm GMT | 7.29pm GMT |
| 19:29 | 19:29 |
| Lisa O'Carroll | Lisa O'Carroll |
| While the presidents are back on the move – Barack Obama to meet entrepreneurs at an event in Havana, Raúl Castro to ready for a massive state dinner this evening – my colleague Lisa O’Carroll has taken to the streets to talk with Cubans about their country’s future. | While the presidents are back on the move – Barack Obama to meet entrepreneurs at an event in Havana, Raúl Castro to ready for a massive state dinner this evening – my colleague Lisa O’Carroll has taken to the streets to talk with Cubans about their country’s future. |
| The 56-year old blockade has possibly given Cuba unique global status as the only McDonalds-free zones in the world. Despite the burgeoning tourist trade, and the possibility of up to 30 daily flights from the US later this year, there is no virtually no evidence of American culture apart from 1950s Buicks, Plymouths and other motor relics of the pre-revolution days. | The 56-year old blockade has possibly given Cuba unique global status as the only McDonalds-free zones in the world. Despite the burgeoning tourist trade, and the possibility of up to 30 daily flights from the US later this year, there is no virtually no evidence of American culture apart from 1950s Buicks, Plymouths and other motor relics of the pre-revolution days. |
| There are no fast food chains, no Starbucks, no Coca-Cola (although Coca Cola’s Sprite seems to have sneaked through trade barrier). | There are no fast food chains, no Starbucks, no Coca-Cola (although Coca Cola’s Sprite seems to have sneaked through trade barrier). |
| American credit cards don’t work and tourists hoping the US dollar is the preferred currency get a rude shock when charged high fees to change them into pesos. | American credit cards don’t work and tourists hoping the US dollar is the preferred currency get a rude shock when charged high fees to change them into pesos. |
| “There is one word that identifies our country since 1868, and that is ‘independence’,” said the concierge at one of the luxury hotels frequented by Americans. | “There is one word that identifies our country since 1868, and that is ‘independence’,” said the concierge at one of the luxury hotels frequented by Americans. |
| “It is as simple as that,” he said. “Maybe it will be a good thing that McDonalds doesn’t open. It will be the first step towards our death.” | “It is as simple as that,” he said. “Maybe it will be a good thing that McDonalds doesn’t open. It will be the first step towards our death.” |
| He doesn’t expect overnight change flowing from the lifting of trade restrictions and the normalisation of Cuban-American relations Obama visit. Evidently proud of his country’s resistance to succumb to America, he says Obama is just another president visiting Cuba “like Francois Hollande”. | He doesn’t expect overnight change flowing from the lifting of trade restrictions and the normalisation of Cuban-American relations Obama visit. Evidently proud of his country’s resistance to succumb to America, he says Obama is just another president visiting Cuba “like Francois Hollande”. |
| “It is not the Berlin Wall,” he added. “Maybe Russia got Coca Cola and McDonald’s at the end of the Cold War. Today we enjoy Obama’s visit. Maybe the Americans come here and try to invest in our economy but it is important to remember Fidel Castro is still alive. | “It is not the Berlin Wall,” he added. “Maybe Russia got Coca Cola and McDonald’s at the end of the Cold War. Today we enjoy Obama’s visit. Maybe the Americans come here and try to invest in our economy but it is important to remember Fidel Castro is still alive. |
| “He and Raoul have many smart people around them and they will stay in charge. This is our country and Obama’s visit is only a first step to solve our relationship,” he said. “We are in no rush.” | “He and Raoul have many smart people around them and they will stay in charge. This is our country and Obama’s visit is only a first step to solve our relationship,” he said. “We are in no rush.” |
| Cuba has spent all week putting on its Sunday best for Obama with fresh Tarmac on all the main roads – that are usually free of traffic – in the city centre. | Cuba has spent all week putting on its Sunday best for Obama with fresh Tarmac on all the main roads – that are usually free of traffic – in the city centre. |
| Just around the corner, the typical Cuban home is equally as grand and elegant, neoclassical or colonial in design, but after almost 60 years of neglect virtually falling down. | Just around the corner, the typical Cuban home is equally as grand and elegant, neoclassical or colonial in design, but after almost 60 years of neglect virtually falling down. |
| 7.06pm GMT | 7.06pm GMT |
| 19:06 | 19:06 |
| The Huffington Post’s Jennifer Bendery does a quick fact-check of Raúl Castro’s claim that there aren’t actually any political prisoners in Cuba – or at least that he’d have to look into it if someone would give him a name. | The Huffington Post’s Jennifer Bendery does a quick fact-check of Raúl Castro’s claim that there aren’t actually any political prisoners in Cuba – or at least that he’d have to look into it if someone would give him a name. |
| The Cuban Observatory for Human Rights estimated that, as of the end of last year, there were at least a few dozen political prisoners in Cuba. | The Cuban Observatory for Human Rights estimated that, as of the end of last year, there were at least a few dozen political prisoners in Cuba. |
| Just yesterday the Guardian saw a political protest forcibly broken up by police, and few dozen people bundled into police vans, as well. | Just yesterday the Guardian saw a political protest forcibly broken up by police, and few dozen people bundled into police vans, as well. |
| Related: 'The oppression is high': Cuban police break up protest ahead of Obama's visit | Related: 'The oppression is high': Cuban police break up protest ahead of Obama's visit |
| Between 27-70 political prisoners in Cuba at the end of 2015, per Freedom House, an indie watchdog group. pic.twitter.com/poREgWJ5q2 | Between 27-70 political prisoners in Cuba at the end of 2015, per Freedom House, an indie watchdog group. pic.twitter.com/poREgWJ5q2 |
| 7.01pm GMT | 7.01pm GMT |
| 19:01 | 19:01 |
| Castro defends Cuba's record on human rights | Castro defends Cuba's record on human rights |
| Castro answers a question about Cuba’s compliance with international standards of human rights. | Castro answers a question about Cuba’s compliance with international standards of human rights. |
| “There are 61 international instruments to recognize how many countries in the world comply with all the human rights and civil rights,” he sys. | “There are 61 international instruments to recognize how many countries in the world comply with all the human rights and civil rights,” he sys. |
| “What country complies with them all? Do you know? I know. None. Not a single country. Some countries comply with some rights, others apply others.” | “What country complies with them all? Do you know? I know. None. Not a single country. Some countries comply with some rights, others apply others.” |
| He says that Cuba complies with 40, and that he doesn’t believe human rights issues should be “politicized”. | He says that Cuba complies with 40, and that he doesn’t believe human rights issues should be “politicized”. |
| “Do you think that there’s a more central right than to healthcare? So that millions of children don’t die for the lack of a vaccine or treatment?” he asks. | “Do you think that there’s a more central right than to healthcare? So that millions of children don’t die for the lack of a vaccine or treatment?” he asks. |
| “Do you agree with the right to free education, for all those born everywhere in the world? I think many countries don’t think this is a human right.” | “Do you agree with the right to free education, for all those born everywhere in the world? I think many countries don’t think this is a human right.” |
| He boasts about Cuba’s healthcare system, saying that pregnant women go to the hospital days before they’re due to ensure a safe delivery – “it doesn’t matter whether they live in distant places or the country.” | He boasts about Cuba’s healthcare system, saying that pregnant women go to the hospital days before they’re due to ensure a safe delivery – “it doesn’t matter whether they live in distant places or the country.” |
| Then Castro points out that Cuba has laws about equal pay regardless of gender: “In Cuba women get the same pay for the same work. I can give you many, many examples. | Then Castro points out that Cuba has laws about equal pay regardless of gender: “In Cuba women get the same pay for the same work. I can give you many, many examples. |
| “I don’t think we can use the argument of human rights for political confrontation. That’s not fair. That’s not correct. I’m not saying that’s not honest, or that it’s not part of discussions, but let us work together so that we can all comply with rights. | “I don’t think we can use the argument of human rights for political confrontation. That’s not fair. That’s not correct. I’m not saying that’s not honest, or that it’s not part of discussions, but let us work together so that we can all comply with rights. |
| “I’m going to end here because there’s a commitment we’ve got to get to.” | “I’m going to end here because there’s a commitment we’ve got to get to.” |
| But the question about political prisoners is clearly still on his mind: “It’s not right to ask me about political prisoners in general, please give me the name of a political prisoner.” | But the question about political prisoners is clearly still on his mind: “It’s not right to ask me about political prisoners in general, please give me the name of a political prisoner.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.16pm GMT | at 7.16pm GMT |
| 6.54pm GMT | 6.54pm GMT |
| 18:54 | 18:54 |
| Obama: the embargo will end | Obama: the embargo will end |
| “The embargo’s gonna end,” Obama declares. “When, I can’t be entirely sure … and the path is going to continue beyond my adminsitration. | “The embargo’s gonna end,” Obama declares. “When, I can’t be entirely sure … and the path is going to continue beyond my adminsitration. |
| “The reason is logic. The reason is what we did for 50 years did not serve our interests or the interests of the Cuban people. … If you keep on doing something over and over again for 50 years and it doesn’t work it might make sense to try something new.” | “The reason is logic. The reason is what we did for 50 years did not serve our interests or the interests of the Cuban people. … If you keep on doing something over and over again for 50 years and it doesn’t work it might make sense to try something new.” |
| He gets to the qualification: “Having said that lifting the embargo requires the votes of a majority in Congress and maybe even more than a majority in the Senate. As I’ve indicated to President Castro two things I think will help accelerate the case … | He gets to the qualification: “Having said that lifting the embargo requires the votes of a majority in Congress and maybe even more than a majority in the Senate. As I’ve indicated to President Castro two things I think will help accelerate the case … |
| “The first is to the degree that we can take advantage of the existing changes that we’ve already made … that will help to validate this change in policy.” | “The first is to the degree that we can take advantage of the existing changes that we’ve already made … that will help to validate this change in policy.” |
| He gives the example of allowing US companies to build infrastructure and internet access in Cuba, saying that this will open the country and make business easier for Americans and Cubans both. | He gives the example of allowing US companies to build infrastructure and internet access in Cuba, saying that this will open the country and make business easier for Americans and Cubans both. |
| “The second area is human rights,” he continues. “People are still concerned about that inside of Cuba. Keep in mind i’ve got fierce disagreements with the Chinese about Cuba. I’m going to Vietnam. I have deep disagreements with them as well. | “The second area is human rights,” he continues. “People are still concerned about that inside of Cuba. Keep in mind i’ve got fierce disagreements with the Chinese about Cuba. I’m going to Vietnam. I have deep disagreements with them as well. |
| If I engage, frankly, clearly, stating what our beliefs are but also being clear that we can’t force change on any particular country, ultimately it has to come from within. That is going to be a more useful strategy than the same kindso f rigid disagreement that for 50 years did nothing. | If I engage, frankly, clearly, stating what our beliefs are but also being clear that we can’t force change on any particular country, ultimately it has to come from within. That is going to be a more useful strategy than the same kindso f rigid disagreement that for 50 years did nothing. |
| “What this comes down to,” Obama concludes, “is I have faith in people. If they’re talking and interacting and going to school together and doing business together … they will recognize that people are people. And in that context, I believe that change will occur.” | “What this comes down to,” Obama concludes, “is I have faith in people. If they’re talking and interacting and going to school together and doing business together … they will recognize that people are people. And in that context, I believe that change will occur.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.17pm GMT | at 7.17pm GMT |
| 6.47pm GMT | 6.47pm GMT |
| 18:47 | 18:47 |
| A reporter asks Castro to expand on his hopeful remarks about “civilized coexistence”, and Castro gives a few examples. | A reporter asks Castro to expand on his hopeful remarks about “civilized coexistence”, and Castro gives a few examples. |
| He notes the cooperation between doctors “In Haiti with cholera, and Africa with Ebola, that [cooperation] is the future of mankind if we want to save the human species.” | He notes the cooperation between doctors “In Haiti with cholera, and Africa with Ebola, that [cooperation] is the future of mankind if we want to save the human species.” |
| “Water levels are rising,” he adds, alluding to US-Cuba cooperation on climate change, and then he loses his train of thought somewhat. “These are too many questions for me – I think some should go to President Obama.” | “Water levels are rising,” he adds, alluding to US-Cuba cooperation on climate change, and then he loses his train of thought somewhat. “These are too many questions for me – I think some should go to President Obama.” |
| Obama answers a question about the embargo. “We have administratively made a number of modifications on the embargo,” he says. | Obama answers a question about the embargo. “We have administratively made a number of modifications on the embargo,” he says. |
| “We’ve actually been fairly aggressive in exercising as much flexibility as we can given that the law putting the embargo in place has not been repealed by Congress.” | “We’ve actually been fairly aggressive in exercising as much flexibility as we can given that the law putting the embargo in place has not been repealed by Congress.” |
| “There may be some technical aspects that we can still make adjustments on depending on problems as they arise. For instance the issue around the dollar and the need to make modifications … to encourage rather than discourage reforms that the Cuban government itself is willing to engage in and to facilitate trade and commerce.” | “There may be some technical aspects that we can still make adjustments on depending on problems as they arise. For instance the issue around the dollar and the need to make modifications … to encourage rather than discourage reforms that the Cuban government itself is willing to engage in and to facilitate trade and commerce.” |
| Obama blames Congress a bit for tying his hands: “Frankly Congress is not as active as I would like during presidential election years.” | Obama blames Congress a bit for tying his hands: “Frankly Congress is not as active as I would like during presidential election years.” |
| But he says he’s still hopeful: “The fact that we have such a large congressional delegation, including Republicans and Democrats, is an indication that there is growing interest for lifting the embargo.” | But he says he’s still hopeful: “The fact that we have such a large congressional delegation, including Republicans and Democrats, is an indication that there is growing interest for lifting the embargo.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.18pm GMT | at 7.18pm GMT |
| 6.42pm GMT | 6.42pm GMT |
| 18:42 | 18:42 |
| Castro denies political prisoners exist | Castro denies political prisoners exist |
| The second to Castro: this is a new direction for your country, why do you have Cuban political prisoners, and why don’t you release them? | The second to Castro: this is a new direction for your country, why do you have Cuban political prisoners, and why don’t you release them? |
| Castro is defiant. “Give me a list and I’ll release them,” he says, suggesting Cuba has none at all. “If we have those political prisoners they will be released before tonight ends.” | Castro is defiant. “Give me a list and I’ll release them,” he says, suggesting Cuba has none at all. “If we have those political prisoners they will be released before tonight ends.” |
| A third to Castro: who do you prefer, Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump? | A third to Castro: who do you prefer, Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump? |
| “Well, I can’t vote in the United States,” Castro jokes. | “Well, I can’t vote in the United States,” Castro jokes. |
| NB: Obama did not answer the question about why he didn’t meet Fidel Castro. | NB: Obama did not answer the question about why he didn’t meet Fidel Castro. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.57pm GMT | at 7.57pm GMT |
| 6.38pm GMT | 6.38pm GMT |
| 18:38 | 18:38 |
| The presidents take questions. The first to Obama: how did you urge Castro on human rights and why didn’t you meet with Fidel Castro? | The presidents take questions. The first to Obama: how did you urge Castro on human rights and why didn’t you meet with Fidel Castro? |
| Obama: “We had a very frank conversation around issues of democracy and human rights. Our starting point is we have two different systems, different systems of government, of economy. And we have decades of differences,” he says. | Obama: “We had a very frank conversation around issues of democracy and human rights. Our starting point is we have two different systems, different systems of government, of economy. And we have decades of differences,” he says. |
| “What I have said to President Castro is we are moving forward and not looking backward, that we don’t view Cuba as a threat to the United States. | “What I have said to President Castro is we are moving forward and not looking backward, that we don’t view Cuba as a threat to the United States. |
| “America believes in democracy, we believe that freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion are not just American values but are universal values. | “America believes in democracy, we believe that freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion are not just American values but are universal values. |
| “They may not be enshrined in the founding documents or constitution of every country … but the impulse, the human impulse toward freedom, the freedom that Jose Marti talked about, we think is a universal [freedom].” | “They may not be enshrined in the founding documents or constitution of every country … but the impulse, the human impulse toward freedom, the freedom that Jose Marti talked about, we think is a universal [freedom].” |
| “President Castro has pointed out in his view that everybody gets decent education or healthcare,” Obama continues, “are universal human rights as well.” | “President Castro has pointed out in his view that everybody gets decent education or healthcare,” Obama continues, “are universal human rights as well.” |
| “I personally don’t disagree with him, but it doesn’t detract” from the other conversations, he insists. | “I personally don’t disagree with him, but it doesn’t detract” from the other conversations, he insists. |
| “It’s not for the United States to dictate to Cuba how they should govern themselves,” he continues. “Hopefully that we can learn from each other. It does not mean that it has to be the only issue that we talk about.” | “It’s not for the United States to dictate to Cuba how they should govern themselves,” he continues. “Hopefully that we can learn from each other. It does not mean that it has to be the only issue that we talk about.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.15pm GMT | at 7.15pm GMT |