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Kerry to Strike Delicate Balance in Havana Trip for Embassy Flag-Raising Kerry Strikes Delicate Balance in Havana Trip for Embassy Flag-Raising
(about 2 hours later)
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Cuba on Friday morning to attend a flag-raising ceremony at the American Embassy and to give a lift to the effort to rebuild ties after more than half a century of hostility. HAVANA, Cuba — Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Cuba on Friday morning to attend a flag-raising ceremony at the American Embassy and to give a lift to the effort to rebuild ties after more than half a century of hostility.
But Mr. Kerry’s visit — the first by a secretary of state since Edward R. Stettinius Jr. made a short trip to Havana in 1945 — also reflects the balance that the Obama administration is trying to strike between working with an authoritarian government and supporting Cuba’s beleaguered dissidents.But Mr. Kerry’s visit — the first by a secretary of state since Edward R. Stettinius Jr. made a short trip to Havana in 1945 — also reflects the balance that the Obama administration is trying to strike between working with an authoritarian government and supporting Cuba’s beleaguered dissidents.
The morning’s highlight will be the carefully choreographed ceremony at the embassy, which was officially opened last month. Richard Blanco, a Cuban-American poet who read a poem at President Obama’s swearing-in after the 2012 election, becoming the first openly gay person to deliver such a reading, will recite one of his works before Mr. Kerry speaks. Mr. Kerry said at the embassy that while “Cuba’s future is for Cubans to decide” and the choice of how they would be governed was solely their responsibility, the United States “remained convinced that “the people of Cuba would be best served by a genuine democracy, where people are free to choose their leaders, express their ideas, and practice their faith; where the commitment to economic and social justice is realized more fully; where institutions are answerable to those they serve; and where civil society is independent and allowed to flourish.”
Three retired Marines who lowered the American flag when the embassy was closed in 1961 will present another to be raised by the Marines now assigned to the diplomatic post. (Unlike the Cubans, who opened their embassy last month in Washington by displaying the very flag they took down more than half a century ago, the Americans are using a new one.) The United States Army Brass Quintet will play the Cuban and American national anthems. The morning’s highlight was the carefully choreographed ceremony at the embassy, which was officially opened last month. Richard Blanco, a Cuban-American poet who read a poem at President Obama’s swearing-in after the 2012 election, becoming the first openly gay person to deliver such a reading, recited one of his works before Mr. Kerry spoke.
The embassy ceremony, which will be streamed live on the State Department website, will be attended by ranking Cuban and American officials, United States lawmakers and some private citizens, but no Cuban dissidents. Three retired Marines who lowered the American flag when the embassy was closed in 1961 presented another to be raised by the Marines now assigned to the diplomatic post. (Unlike the Cubans, who opened their embassy last month in Washington by displaying the very flag they took down more than half a century ago, the Americans used a new one.) The United States Army Brass Quintet played the Cuban and American national anthems.
The lectern for the ceremony was set up next to the flagpole near the north side of the waterfront embassy compound, making the waters of the Straits of Florida a backdrop for the speakers and musicians — what Mr. Blanco called “the lucid blues of our shared horizon.”
Placing the scene unmistakably in Havana were midcentury vintage American cars parked strategically on the boulevard outside the compound fence, including a cherry red convertible and what appeared to be a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air hardtop coupe in baby blue and white. Mr. Kerry jokingly thanked his hosts for having “my future transportation” on hand for the occasion.
Early in his remarks, Mr. Kerry delivered a passage in Spanish, saying that while the road to fully normal relations would be long, there was nothing to fear and that the benefits of improved relations would be great for citizens of both countries. Returning to English, he noted other examples of countries with which the United States had fruitfully reconciled after decades of enmity, including Vietnam, and referred to Cuba and the United States “as two peoples who are no longer enemies or rivals, but neighbors.”
The embassy ceremony, streamed live on the State Department website, was attended by ranking Cuban and American officials, United States lawmakers, Swiss diplomats and some private citizens, but no Cuban dissidents.
“It is principally a government-to-government event, and it is extremely constrained in space,” a senior State Department official said on Wednesday.“It is principally a government-to-government event, and it is extremely constrained in space,” a senior State Department official said on Wednesday.
In the afternoon, however, Mr. Kerry will have an opportunity to talk with Cuban human rights proponents and political activists at a reception at the official residence of Jeffrey DeLaurentis, who is serving as the top American diplomat in Cuba until an ambassador is nominated and confirmed.In the afternoon, however, Mr. Kerry will have an opportunity to talk with Cuban human rights proponents and political activists at a reception at the official residence of Jeffrey DeLaurentis, who is serving as the top American diplomat in Cuba until an ambassador is nominated and confirmed.
That reception will also be attended by Cuban artists, entrepreneurs and the diplomatic corps in Havana. A second flag-raising will take place there, though that one will not be streamed live.That reception will also be attended by Cuban artists, entrepreneurs and the diplomatic corps in Havana. A second flag-raising will take place there, though that one will not be streamed live.
“The secretary does look forward to seeing many members of Cuban civil society, including dissidents, at that event,” the State Department official said.“The secretary does look forward to seeing many members of Cuban civil society, including dissidents, at that event,” the State Department official said.
During his nearly 12 hours in Havana, Mr. Kerry will also meet with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, who will join him for a news conference, and with Cardinal Jaime Ortega, who played a role in the back-channel talks on restoring relations. Mr. Kerry — who was busy lobbying on behalf of the Iran nuclear deal when the embassy opened last month — does not plan to meet with President Raúl Castro or his brother, former President Fidel Castro.During his nearly 12 hours in Havana, Mr. Kerry will also meet with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, who will join him for a news conference, and with Cardinal Jaime Ortega, who played a role in the back-channel talks on restoring relations. Mr. Kerry — who was busy lobbying on behalf of the Iran nuclear deal when the embassy opened last month — does not plan to meet with President Raúl Castro or his brother, former President Fidel Castro.
In an interview on the Spanish-language television network Telemundo on Wednesday, Mr. Kerry said that he planned to squeeze in an “open, free walk in Old Havana” before returning to Washington on Friday evening.In an interview on the Spanish-language television network Telemundo on Wednesday, Mr. Kerry said that he planned to squeeze in an “open, free walk in Old Havana” before returning to Washington on Friday evening.
“After 54 years of seeing zero progress,” he said in the interview, “one of the things we negotiated was the ability of our diplomats to be able to meet with people in Cuba and not to be restrained. And I believe the people of Cuba benefit by virtue of that presence and that ability.”“After 54 years of seeing zero progress,” he said in the interview, “one of the things we negotiated was the ability of our diplomats to be able to meet with people in Cuba and not to be restrained. And I believe the people of Cuba benefit by virtue of that presence and that ability.”
Just how much access American diplomats will have to the Cuban population, however, remains unclear. The State Department official said that American diplomats would be required to notify the Cuban authorities when they want to travel, and that the embassy would function much like other diplomatic posts “in restrictive environments around the world.”Just how much access American diplomats will have to the Cuban population, however, remains unclear. The State Department official said that American diplomats would be required to notify the Cuban authorities when they want to travel, and that the embassy would function much like other diplomatic posts “in restrictive environments around the world.”
In China, a prominent “restrictive environment,” the authorities have sought to prevent American diplomats from speaking at public events and have put some areas of the country off limits.In China, a prominent “restrictive environment,” the authorities have sought to prevent American diplomats from speaking at public events and have put some areas of the country off limits.
In June, Tom Malinowski, the senior State Department official for human rights, strongly defended the policy to normalize relations with Cuba, saying that it would remove the Cuban authorities’ argument that the United States was at fault for Cuba’s problems, and would “put the focus where it belongs — on their actions and on their policies.”In June, Tom Malinowski, the senior State Department official for human rights, strongly defended the policy to normalize relations with Cuba, saying that it would remove the Cuban authorities’ argument that the United States was at fault for Cuba’s problems, and would “put the focus where it belongs — on their actions and on their policies.”
At the same time, Mr. Malinowski acknowledged, American officials “have not yet seen a letup in the kind of day-to-day harassment that civil society activists face in Cuba,” including short-term arrests.At the same time, Mr. Malinowski acknowledged, American officials “have not yet seen a letup in the kind of day-to-day harassment that civil society activists face in Cuba,” including short-term arrests.
Mr. Kerry is leading a delegation that includes eight American lawmakers who strongly back the White House policy to restore diplomatic and economic ties; more than a half-dozen Cuban-Americans; and senior officials from the Treasury Department, the Commerce Department and the White House. An extra plane was arranged to accommodate the lawmakers and journalists who wanted to go.Mr. Kerry is leading a delegation that includes eight American lawmakers who strongly back the White House policy to restore diplomatic and economic ties; more than a half-dozen Cuban-Americans; and senior officials from the Treasury Department, the Commerce Department and the White House. An extra plane was arranged to accommodate the lawmakers and journalists who wanted to go.
Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat who will be on the trip and who has sponsored legislation to lift the trade embargo, said in a phone interview that the policy to restore relations had broad support among her constituents, including those at a butter-producing company she recently visited.Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat who will be on the trip and who has sponsored legislation to lift the trade embargo, said in a phone interview that the policy to restore relations had broad support among her constituents, including those at a butter-producing company she recently visited.
“They thought it is a bit of an opportunity for agriculture,” she said, “but the overriding theme is they just think that the time has come.”“They thought it is a bit of an opportunity for agriculture,” she said, “but the overriding theme is they just think that the time has come.”