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| Obama in Cuba: Raúl Castro sees US president off from historic visit – as it happened | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.00pm GMT | |
| 21:00 | |
| Summary | |
| We’re going to close our live coverage with a summary of Barack Obama’s second and last day in Havana, on the first presidential visit to Cuba since Fidel Castro’s revolution took over the island in 1959. | |
| 8.56pm GMT | |
| 20:56 | |
| With all the pageantry past, what to make of the great show of respect – despite occasional outbursts from Raúl Castro to the press – between the Cuban president and Barack Obama? | |
| A strategy of influence that is more than a little awkward, writes the New Yorker’s Jon Lee Anderson: | |
| Politeness is the operative word for Obama’s visit, replacing an enmity so historic and baroque that, just a decade ago, the U.S. Embassy – then known as the US “Interests Section” – went so far as to erect an electronic signboard that carried a ticker-tape of anti-Castro news. | |
| In response, an outraged Fidel Castro set up a forest of black flags to block the signboard. The sign was reportedly erected in response to the anti-imperialist tribune established outside the Embassy building, which hosted a raucous barrage of anti-Yankee speeches and demonstrations. … Today, the posters around town are of Obama and Raúl Castro, with their two countries’ flags side by side. | |
| Anderson then notes that one of the president’s top advisers, Ben Rhodes, spent Monday evening repeating that rapprochement is “all about promoting openness, more and more of it, in order to make the discourse between the two countries and inside Cuba as free as possible.” | |
| ‘We would like the diversity of opinion in Cuban society to be more publicly exposed,” was how Rhodes put it. | |
| The subtext to this, of course, is that by reaching out directly to Cuban civil society and to its budding private sector, the US government is reaching around the Cuban state to open a direct dialogue with its citizens in a way that was impossible during the more than half-century deep freeze. | |
| When Obama and Castro finished their press conference, Castro reached over and grabbed one of Obama’s arms in an attempt to raise it in a joint salute. The choreography was a little awkward and, for a moment, there it was – the perfect depiction, somehow, of two leaders who represent nations that were once fierce enemies and have yet to figure out how to become fast friends. | |
| You can read the full piece here. | |
| 8.33pm GMT | 8.33pm GMT |
| 20:33 | 20:33 |
| American and Cuban diplomats were not just concerned with relations between their two countries over the last few days – they were also instrumental in talks between the Colombian government and Farc guerrillas. | American and Cuban diplomats were not just concerned with relations between their two countries over the last few days – they were also instrumental in talks between the Colombian government and Farc guerrillas. |
| The war between the leftist rebels, who are on the US list of terror groups, and the government has lasted more than 50 years and cost more than 200,000 lives. Reuters reports on Secretary of State John Kerry’s unprecedented part in the talks: | The war between the leftist rebels, who are on the US list of terror groups, and the government has lasted more than 50 years and cost more than 200,000 lives. Reuters reports on Secretary of State John Kerry’s unprecedented part in the talks: |
| Kerry was encouraged by progress in the Colombian peace process after meeting on Monday in Havana with representatives of Colombia’s Marxist FARC guerrilla group and the Bogota government, a State Department spokesman said. | Kerry was encouraged by progress in the Colombian peace process after meeting on Monday in Havana with representatives of Colombia’s Marxist FARC guerrilla group and the Bogota government, a State Department spokesman said. |
| Kerry met the two sides separately and called for them to redouble their efforts to resolve the remaining issues in the talks, Mark Toner said in a statement. | Kerry met the two sides separately and called for them to redouble their efforts to resolve the remaining issues in the talks, Mark Toner said in a statement. |
| His involvement, at the request of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, marked the first time a US secretary of state had met with negotiators from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) since peace talks started in Havana more than three years ago. | His involvement, at the request of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, marked the first time a US secretary of state had met with negotiators from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) since peace talks started in Havana more than three years ago. |
| The meeting between the Bogotá delegation and Kerry was “very productive,” government negotiator Humberto de la Calle told journalists. | The meeting between the Bogotá delegation and Kerry was “very productive,” government negotiator Humberto de la Calle told journalists. |
| “There were extraordinarily concrete elements,” de la Calle said. “For example, the announcement of help from the United States relating to the security of people who lay down arms, which is a critical subject at the talks.” | “There were extraordinarily concrete elements,” de la Calle said. “For example, the announcement of help from the United States relating to the security of people who lay down arms, which is a critical subject at the talks.” |
| The FARC thanked the US for its support of the peace talks and said they hope to reach a final peace agreement in the coming months. | The FARC thanked the US for its support of the peace talks and said they hope to reach a final peace agreement in the coming months. |
| “On a not-distant date we will give good news to the country and the world – that Colombia has reached peace,” the rebel group said in a statement on its website. | “On a not-distant date we will give good news to the country and the world – that Colombia has reached peace,” the rebel group said in a statement on its website. |
| Related: John Kerry holds unprecedented peace talks with Colombian Farc rebels | Related: John Kerry holds unprecedented peace talks with Colombian Farc rebels |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.34pm GMT | at 8.34pm GMT |
| 8.22pm GMT | 8.22pm GMT |
| 20:22 | 20:22 |
| As Obama flies off, Raul gazes up into the sky with a Mona Lisa smile. What, I wonder, is going through his mind. | As Obama flies off, Raul gazes up into the sky with a Mona Lisa smile. What, I wonder, is going through his mind. |
| 8.21pm GMT | 8.21pm GMT |
| 20:21 | 20:21 |
| Obama departs Cuba | Obama departs Cuba |
| The Rays are up 3-0 at the bottom of the seventh, but Barack Obama is off to Air Force One before the game has ended. | The Rays are up 3-0 at the bottom of the seventh, but Barack Obama is off to Air Force One before the game has ended. |
| Cuban president Raúl Castro is there to see him and the first family off. | Cuban president Raúl Castro is there to see him and the first family off. |
| Raul didn't welcome Obama at the airport when he arrived but he gives him warm send off at steps of Air Force One. Friendship formed. | Raul didn't welcome Obama at the airport when he arrived but he gives him warm send off at steps of Air Force One. Friendship formed. |
| Raul Castro, who didn't greet Obama at the airport, is seeing him off in a very smiley walk to Air Force One pic.twitter.com/L1MsMKLxpP | Raul Castro, who didn't greet Obama at the airport, is seeing him off in a very smiley walk to Air Force One pic.twitter.com/L1MsMKLxpP |
| 7.59pm GMT | 7.59pm GMT |
| 19:59 | 19:59 |
| At the end of the fifth the Rays are still up 3-0 over the Cuban national team, which has five hits to Tampa Bay’s three. | At the end of the fifth the Rays are still up 3-0 over the Cuban national team, which has five hits to Tampa Bay’s three. |
| 7.43pm GMT | 7.43pm GMT |
| 19:43 | 19:43 |
| Lisa O'Carroll | Lisa O'Carroll |
| Some of the first words spoken by Barack Obama to Raúl Castro after the leaders met in the Palace of the Revolution on Monday were unexpected: “we had a great dinner.” (The US president was answering his Cuban counterpart’s question about how he liked Havana so far.) My colleague Lisa O’Carroll has trekked to the restaurant where the Obamas dined on Sunday night, and met its owner there. | Some of the first words spoken by Barack Obama to Raúl Castro after the leaders met in the Palace of the Revolution on Monday were unexpected: “we had a great dinner.” (The US president was answering his Cuban counterpart’s question about how he liked Havana so far.) My colleague Lisa O’Carroll has trekked to the restaurant where the Obamas dined on Sunday night, and met its owner there. |
| The atmospheric San Cristobal Paladar restaurant, in a run-down backstreet in central Havana, is set to be the hottest spot in town after Obama and his family made a surprise visit on their first night in Cuba. | The atmospheric San Cristobal Paladar restaurant, in a run-down backstreet in central Havana, is set to be the hottest spot in town after Obama and his family made a surprise visit on their first night in Cuba. |
| Owner Carlos Marquez first learned of the president’s visit when 10 secret service men suddenly arrived at his restaurant on Sunday night. | Owner Carlos Marquez first learned of the president’s visit when 10 secret service men suddenly arrived at his restaurant on Sunday night. |
| “I got no warning. It was a total surprise,” Marquez said, beaming with pride about a restaurant that struggled to be accepted as a private enterprise when it opened in the 1990s. | “I got no warning. It was a total surprise,” Marquez said, beaming with pride about a restaurant that struggled to be accepted as a private enterprise when it opened in the 1990s. |
| “There were about 10 security, at the front, the back, up there,” he said with a gesture to the floor upstairs. | “There were about 10 security, at the front, the back, up there,” he said with a gesture to the floor upstairs. |
| Obama, Michelle, their two daughters and the first lady’s mother dined in an atmospheric private room, adorned with books, photos of famous (now less famous) guests and Marquez and his family. | Obama, Michelle, their two daughters and the first lady’s mother dined in an atmospheric private room, adorned with books, photos of famous (now less famous) guests and Marquez and his family. |
| Obama had filet minion with three sauces: mushroom, pepper and San Rafael sauce, a speciality of chef Mario-Calzado Frias. | Obama had filet minion with three sauces: mushroom, pepper and San Rafael sauce, a speciality of chef Mario-Calzado Frias. |
| Michelle opted for “Havana Temptation”, a beef with banana dish, and Sasha and Malia opted for a pork main. | Michelle opted for “Havana Temptation”, a beef with banana dish, and Sasha and Malia opted for a pork main. |
| Marquez proudly told how the Obamas, along with Michelle’s mother Marian Lois Robinson, paired the dishes with a Spanish Ribera del Duero, a red wine from the Conde de San Cristobal estate which retails in the UK at £17.99 (about $25). | Marquez proudly told how the Obamas, along with Michelle’s mother Marian Lois Robinson, paired the dishes with a Spanish Ribera del Duero, a red wine from the Conde de San Cristobal estate which retails in the UK at £17.99 (about $25). |
| “They didn’t finish it,” Marquez said. “They drank about three quarters”. | “They didn’t finish it,” Marquez said. “They drank about three quarters”. |
| Cubans in the know have interpreted Obama’s choice as a subtle geature of support for private entreprise: San Cristobal was one of the first private restaurants to open when regulations relaxed somewhat in the 1990s. About 75% of Trip Advisor reviewers rated the restaurant as “excellent”. From now readers will be lucky to get a reservation | Cubans in the know have interpreted Obama’s choice as a subtle geature of support for private entreprise: San Cristobal was one of the first private restaurants to open when regulations relaxed somewhat in the 1990s. About 75% of Trip Advisor reviewers rated the restaurant as “excellent”. From now readers will be lucky to get a reservation |
| “The phone hasn’t stopped ringing,” since Marquez. “I am over the moon.” | “The phone hasn’t stopped ringing,” since Marquez. “I am over the moon.” |
| This is the £17.99 Spanish wine Obama and Michelle chose with their meal at San Cristobal restaurant in Havana! pic.twitter.com/5LUfinXxno | This is the £17.99 Spanish wine Obama and Michelle chose with their meal at San Cristobal restaurant in Havana! pic.twitter.com/5LUfinXxno |
| 7.29pm GMT | 7.29pm GMT |
| 19:29 | 19:29 |
| Back to the game, for the moment – the Rays have just scored a home run, knocking two men around the bases for scores. | Back to the game, for the moment – the Rays have just scored a home run, knocking two men around the bases for scores. |
| It’s 3-0, top of the fourth, with two outs. | It’s 3-0, top of the fourth, with two outs. |
| The game. #MLBinCuba pic.twitter.com/650wdkzuPW | The game. #MLBinCuba pic.twitter.com/650wdkzuPW |
| 7.24pm GMT | 7.24pm GMT |
| 19:24 | 19:24 |
| The ESPN commentators revert back to baseball. They tease Obama about struggling to do the first pitch of a baseball game – a presidential tradition that has proven harrowing for several presidents. | The ESPN commentators revert back to baseball. They tease Obama about struggling to do the first pitch of a baseball game – a presidential tradition that has proven harrowing for several presidents. |
| “I’ve talked to President Bush about this,” Obama says, observing that a president by definition has to be able to cope with extraordinary stress. “Nothing is more stressful than throwing out a first pitch, because they just hand you the ball.” | “I’ve talked to President Bush about this,” Obama says, observing that a president by definition has to be able to cope with extraordinary stress. “Nothing is more stressful than throwing out a first pitch, because they just hand you the ball.” |
| He quickly adds “I have not grounded” the ball – he means he has managed to get the ball the 60ft from the pitcher’s mound to the catcher at home plate. He does qualify the point of pride, though: “the first time I did not ground it was because [catcher Albert] Pujols saved me.” | He quickly adds “I have not grounded” the ball – he means he has managed to get the ball the 60ft from the pitcher’s mound to the catcher at home plate. He does qualify the point of pride, though: “the first time I did not ground it was because [catcher Albert] Pujols saved me.” |
| He waxes a little philosophical. “Ultimately what this game is about is good will, and the recognition that people are people. but we can’t forget that there are some larger stakes involved in this.” | He waxes a little philosophical. “Ultimately what this game is about is good will, and the recognition that people are people. but we can’t forget that there are some larger stakes involved in this.” |
| The president again recalls his meeting with Cuban dissidents: “a couple of them had been imprisoned just yesterday, one of them still had cuts as a consequence of handcuffs that had been placed on him.” | The president again recalls his meeting with Cuban dissidents: “a couple of them had been imprisoned just yesterday, one of them still had cuts as a consequence of handcuffs that had been placed on him.” |
| It’s important, he says, to “appreciate the ability for us to meet and talk and dialogue, but we can’t forget the fact that families have experienced pain. And our values are ones that are contrary to some of the values here.” | It’s important, he says, to “appreciate the ability for us to meet and talk and dialogue, but we can’t forget the fact that families have experienced pain. And our values are ones that are contrary to some of the values here.” |
| “There’s a lot of stuff wrong in the world,” he says, before pointing to his daughters nearby to illustrate that the world changes, too. “You can see,” he says, “my daughters were talking to President Castro’s grandchildren.” | “There’s a lot of stuff wrong in the world,” he says, before pointing to his daughters nearby to illustrate that the world changes, too. “You can see,” he says, “my daughters were talking to President Castro’s grandchildren.” |
| “You hope the next generation doesn’t carry over some of the scars, some of the legacies of the past.” | “You hope the next generation doesn’t carry over some of the scars, some of the legacies of the past.” |
| 7.16pm GMT | 7.16pm GMT |
| 19:16 | 19:16 |
| Obama: terrorists cannot defeat America or disrupt our lives | Obama: terrorists cannot defeat America or disrupt our lives |
| One of the ESPN commentators asks Obama about the terror attacks in Belgium earlier on Tuesday | One of the ESPN commentators asks Obama about the terror attacks in Belgium earlier on Tuesday |
| “It’s always a challenge when you have a terrorist attack anywhere in the world,” Obama says. “You want to be respectful and understand the gravity.” | “It’s always a challenge when you have a terrorist attack anywhere in the world,” Obama says. “You want to be respectful and understand the gravity.” |
| He explains why it was important to him to attend the baseball game as planned despite the tragedy in Europe. “The whole premise of terrorism is to try to disrupt people’s ordinary lives.” | He explains why it was important to him to attend the baseball game as planned despite the tragedy in Europe. “The whole premise of terrorism is to try to disrupt people’s ordinary lives.” |
| He says that “one of my most powerful memories” of his presidency was “watching Boston respond after the marathon [bombing]. And when [Boston Red Sox player David] Ortiz went out, and said – probably the only time America didn’t have a problem with some person on live TV – was when he talked about Boston, how strong it is.” | He says that “one of my most powerful memories” of his presidency was “watching Boston respond after the marathon [bombing]. And when [Boston Red Sox player David] Ortiz went out, and said – probably the only time America didn’t have a problem with some person on live TV – was when he talked about Boston, how strong it is.” |
| “That is the kind of resilience and the kind of strength that we have to continually show in the face of these terrorists.” | “That is the kind of resilience and the kind of strength that we have to continually show in the face of these terrorists.” |
| “They cannot defeat America. They don’t produce anything, they don’t have a message that appeals” to Muslims or non-Muslims, he continues. | “They cannot defeat America. They don’t produce anything, they don’t have a message that appeals” to Muslims or non-Muslims, he continues. |
| “What they can do is scare us, and make people afraid and disrupt our daily lives, and as long as we don’t allow that to happen, we’re going to be OK.” | “What they can do is scare us, and make people afraid and disrupt our daily lives, and as long as we don’t allow that to happen, we’re going to be OK.” |