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Cuban flag flies in Washington as relations restored | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Cuba and the US have formally restored diplomatic relations after an agreement struck last year putting aside decades of hostility came into force. | Cuba and the US have formally restored diplomatic relations after an agreement struck last year putting aside decades of hostility came into force. |
Just after midnight local time, the diplomatic missions of each country became full embassies. | Just after midnight local time, the diplomatic missions of each country became full embassies. |
The Cuban flag was raised on Monday at the newly opened embassy in Washington. | |
US Secretary of State John Kerry is due to hold talks with his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez later in the day. | |
Despite the historic shift, both sides admit to lingering difficulties. | Despite the historic shift, both sides admit to lingering difficulties. |
There were still "issues that we don't see eye to eye on", a US state department spokesman said. | There were still "issues that we don't see eye to eye on", a US state department spokesman said. |
A flag will not be raised at the American Embassy in Havana until Mr Kerry pays a visit there on 14 August. | |
Restrictions on Americans wanting to travel to Cuba remain in place, as does the wider US trade embargo banning most American companies from doing business in Cuba. | Restrictions on Americans wanting to travel to Cuba remain in place, as does the wider US trade embargo banning most American companies from doing business in Cuba. |
Cuba says the embargo - which it calls a blockade - is hugely damaging to its economy. | Cuba says the embargo - which it calls a blockade - is hugely damaging to its economy. |
President Raul Castro has urged President Barack Obama to lift it, calling it the main stumbling block towards normalisations. But the US Congress would have to vote on the issue. | President Raul Castro has urged President Barack Obama to lift it, calling it the main stumbling block towards normalisations. But the US Congress would have to vote on the issue. |
The two presidents announced the move towards diplomatic ties in December last year. | The two presidents announced the move towards diplomatic ties in December last year. |
Conrad Tribble, deputy chief of mission for the US in Havana, tweeted: "Just made the first phone call to State Dept Ops Center from United States Embassy Havana ever. It didn't exist in Jan 1961." | |
He then shared the US Cuban embassy's new Twitter account, which already has more than 5,000 followers. |