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US embassy in Cuba formally reopens: 'A day for pushing aside old barriers' US embassy in Cuba formally reopens: 'A day for pushing aside old barriers'
(35 minutes later)
John Kerry formally reopened the US embassy in Cuba with a flag-raising ceremony on Friday, during the first visit to the country by a US secretary of state since 1945.John Kerry formally reopened the US embassy in Cuba with a flag-raising ceremony on Friday, during the first visit to the country by a US secretary of state since 1945.
Standing in an outdoor courtyard with a calm Caribbean sea across the street behind him, Kerry pronounced “a day for pushing aside old barriers and pursuing new possibilities”. Standing in an outdoor courtyard with a calm Caribbean sea behind him, Kerry pronounced “a day for pushing aside old barriers and pursuing new possibilities”.
Related: Cuban dissidents not invited to US embassy ceremonial opening in Havana
“For more than half a century, US-Cuba relations have been suspended in the amber of cold war politics,” Kerry said. “It’s time to unfurl our flags and let the world know, we wish each other well.”“For more than half a century, US-Cuba relations have been suspended in the amber of cold war politics,” Kerry said. “It’s time to unfurl our flags and let the world know, we wish each other well.”
Occasionally translating himself into Spanish, Kerry warned against “unrealistic expectations” of immediate changes to follow the normalization of diplomatic relations. “Cuba’s future is for Cubans to shape,” he said. Occasionally speaking in Spanish, Kerry warned against “unrealistic expectations” of immediate changes to follow the normalization of diplomatic relations. “Cuba’s future is for Cubans to shape,” he said.
“We urge the Cuban government to make it less difficult for their citizens to start businesses, to go online, to engage in trade,” Kerry said. “We are certain that the time is now to reach out to one another as two people who are no longer enemies or rivals, but neighbors.”“We urge the Cuban government to make it less difficult for their citizens to start businesses, to go online, to engage in trade,” Kerry said. “We are certain that the time is now to reach out to one another as two people who are no longer enemies or rivals, but neighbors.”
The flag-raising did not change the status of the building, which like its Cuban counterpart in Washington was converted from an interests section to an embassy in July. Cuban foreign minister Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez visited Washington last month to reopen the Cuban embassy.The flag-raising did not change the status of the building, which like its Cuban counterpart in Washington was converted from an interests section to an embassy in July. Cuban foreign minister Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez visited Washington last month to reopen the Cuban embassy.
Related: Cuban dissidents not invited to US embassy ceremonial opening in Havana
Normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries was announced last December.Normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries was announced last December.
Kerry was accompanied by a delegation including assistant secretary for western hemisphere affairs Roberta Jacobson, and senators Barbara Boxer, Jeff Flake, Amy Klobuchar and Patrick Leahy. A Cuban delegation to the ceremony was led by Josefina Vidal, head of US affairs at the Cuban foreign ministry.Kerry was accompanied by a delegation including assistant secretary for western hemisphere affairs Roberta Jacobson, and senators Barbara Boxer, Jeff Flake, Amy Klobuchar and Patrick Leahy. A Cuban delegation to the ceremony was led by Josefina Vidal, head of US affairs at the Cuban foreign ministry.
Obama administration critics have said the White House should have sought more concessions from the Castro regime on human rights as part of the diplomatic thaw.Obama administration critics have said the White House should have sought more concessions from the Castro regime on human rights as part of the diplomatic thaw.
Senator Marco Rubio, who is running for president and whose parents emigrated to the US from Cuba before Castro’s presidency, said in a speech on foreign policy in New York City on Friday that as president he would “roll back President Obama’s concessions to the Castro regime”.Senator Marco Rubio, who is running for president and whose parents emigrated to the US from Cuba before Castro’s presidency, said in a speech on foreign policy in New York City on Friday that as president he would “roll back President Obama’s concessions to the Castro regime”.
“First, on day one, I will give the Castros a choice: either continue repressing your people and lose the diplomatic relations and benefits provided by President Obama, or carry out meaningful political and human rights reforms and receive increased US trade, investment, and support,” Rubio said, according to prepared remarks.“First, on day one, I will give the Castros a choice: either continue repressing your people and lose the diplomatic relations and benefits provided by President Obama, or carry out meaningful political and human rights reforms and receive increased US trade, investment, and support,” Rubio said, according to prepared remarks.
A US economic embargo on Cuba, which can only be lifted by Congress, remains in place, although the Obama administration has taken steps to loosen restrictions on economic activity on the island and has promised more of the same.A US economic embargo on Cuba, which can only be lifted by Congress, remains in place, although the Obama administration has taken steps to loosen restrictions on economic activity on the island and has promised more of the same.
“After 54 years of seeing zero progress, one of the things we negotiated is the ability of our diplomats to be able to meet with people in Cuba and not to be restrained,” Kerry said Thursday. “And I believe the people of Cuba benefit by the virtue of that presence and that ability.”“After 54 years of seeing zero progress, one of the things we negotiated is the ability of our diplomats to be able to meet with people in Cuba and not to be restrained,” Kerry said Thursday. “And I believe the people of Cuba benefit by the virtue of that presence and that ability.”
The event did not include Cuban dissidents, who were not invited out of deference to the Cuban government. Three Marines who had participated in a ceremony to take the flag down in 1961 were guests at the flag raising. Kerry was expected to meet with dissidents and others at an event Friday afternoon at the home of the US chief of mission. The event did not include Cuban dissidents, who were not invited out of deference to the Cuban government. Three US marines who had participated in a ceremony to take the flag down in 1961 were guests at the flag raising. Kerry was expected to meet with dissidents and others at an event on Friday afternoon at the home of the US chief of mission.
Kerry met with senior Cuban government officials but did not have plans to meet with president Raúl Castro or his brother Fidel. Kerry met with senior Cuban government officials but did not have plans to meet with President Raúl Castro or his brother Fidel.