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US and Cuba feel weight of history as embassy reopens US and Cuba feel weight of history as embassy reopens
(about 3 hours later)
The US Secretary of State John Kerry has formally reopened the American embassy in Cuba after the restoration of diplomatic ties last month. Barbara Plett Usher has been travelling with him.The US Secretary of State John Kerry has formally reopened the American embassy in Cuba after the restoration of diplomatic ties last month. Barbara Plett Usher has been travelling with him.
There was so much interest in this visit that the State Department booked two planes from Washington, for lawmakers who had pushed for detente with Cuba and government officials who made it happen.There was so much interest in this visit that the State Department booked two planes from Washington, for lawmakers who had pushed for detente with Cuba and government officials who made it happen.
"It's a funny feeling for someone who's been a grey bureaucrat for 29 years," mused Roberta Jacobson, the senior State Department official who led negotiations on restoring diplomatic ties."It's a funny feeling for someone who's been a grey bureaucrat for 29 years," mused Roberta Jacobson, the senior State Department official who led negotiations on restoring diplomatic ties.
"Suddenly it feels like everything's in Technicolour, like when Dorothy enters the Land of Oz and the world becomes colourful.""Suddenly it feels like everything's in Technicolour, like when Dorothy enters the Land of Oz and the world becomes colourful."
Some lawmakers, like congressman Jim McGovern, shared that sense of wonder: "It felt like this day would never come," he said.Some lawmakers, like congressman Jim McGovern, shared that sense of wonder: "It felt like this day would never come," he said.
Others talked about what more there was to do.Others talked about what more there was to do.
New leadersNew leaders
"As an American I want to be able to visit any country on the planet," said congresswoman Karen Bass."As an American I want to be able to visit any country on the planet," said congresswoman Karen Bass.
Despite the easing of travel restrictions, Cuba is still the only nation that Americans are forbidden to visit as tourists, part of the economic embargo which is still in place.Despite the easing of travel restrictions, Cuba is still the only nation that Americans are forbidden to visit as tourists, part of the economic embargo which is still in place.
The simple ceremony on the grounds of the embassy was weighted with history.The simple ceremony on the grounds of the embassy was weighted with history.
The three marines who took down the flag in the tense atmosphere after President Dwight D Eisenhower cut ties in 1961 helped to put it back up.The three marines who took down the flag in the tense atmosphere after President Dwight D Eisenhower cut ties in 1961 helped to put it back up.
This time the hundreds of Cubans who massed outside on the street came to cheer.This time the hundreds of Cubans who massed outside on the street came to cheer.
They were standing in the shadow of a thicket of 138 flag poles set up by the former Cuban President Fidel Castro to block a Times Square-style ticker installed by George W Bush to flash news and political statements.They were standing in the shadow of a thicket of 138 flag poles set up by the former Cuban President Fidel Castro to block a Times Square-style ticker installed by George W Bush to flash news and political statements.
Both leaders are no longer on the scene, one of the factors that made rapprochement easier, along with political changes in the US and economic ones in Cuba.Both leaders are no longer on the scene, one of the factors that made rapprochement easier, along with political changes in the US and economic ones in Cuba.
Mr Kerry hailed the "courageous decision to stop being prisoners of history".Mr Kerry hailed the "courageous decision to stop being prisoners of history".
He recounted the decades of hostilities rife with provocative gestures and punctured by dangerous escalations, but said estrangement had long since become a relic of the Cold War.He recounted the decades of hostilities rife with provocative gestures and punctured by dangerous escalations, but said estrangement had long since become a relic of the Cold War.
'Issues of conscience''Issues of conscience'
Democracy and human rights came up, because they always do.Democracy and human rights came up, because they always do.
The Secretary of State acknowledged that America's policy of isolation had failed to change the island's one-party communist government.The Secretary of State acknowledged that America's policy of isolation had failed to change the island's one-party communist government.
Cuba's future must be shaped by Cubans, he said. But he insisted they'd be better served by democracy and the US would continue to monitor human rights violations.Cuba's future must be shaped by Cubans, he said. But he insisted they'd be better served by democracy and the US would continue to monitor human rights violations.
The Cuban foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, fired back with a lengthy defence of Cuba's human rights record and concerns about America's. He declared that Cuba didn't have police brutality, racial discrimination or torture, while Mr Kerry stood by silently.The Cuban foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, fired back with a lengthy defence of Cuba's human rights record and concerns about America's. He declared that Cuba didn't have police brutality, racial discrimination or torture, while Mr Kerry stood by silently.
"I wasn't uncomfortable in the least," he later told the journalists travelling with him."I wasn't uncomfortable in the least," he later told the journalists travelling with him.
"I found it quite interesting and… somewhat defensive and purposely pre-emptive," he said. "And I find that encouraging, it means they're listening.""I found it quite interesting and… somewhat defensive and purposely pre-emptive," he said. "And I find that encouraging, it means they're listening."
The two countries are set to begin talks on these and other difficult issues in September, but Mr Kerry said it would be a two-way street.The two countries are set to begin talks on these and other difficult issues in September, but Mr Kerry said it would be a two-way street.
Congress won't lift the embargo "if there isn't movement on issues of conscience here," he said.Congress won't lift the embargo "if there isn't movement on issues of conscience here," he said.
A Cuban blogger and media activist, Yoani Sanchez, was given access to the restricted press event, but she wasn't invited to cover the official ceremony.A Cuban blogger and media activist, Yoani Sanchez, was given access to the restricted press event, but she wasn't invited to cover the official ceremony.
None of the political dissidents were either, they came to the chief of mission's residence for a private function afterwards.None of the political dissidents were either, they came to the chief of mission's residence for a private function afterwards.
The administration was at pains to explain that the former event was for government officials and the latter for civil society, as is the practice in other countries.The administration was at pains to explain that the former event was for government officials and the latter for civil society, as is the practice in other countries.
But until now the practice here has been to isolate the government and back the dissidents.But until now the practice here has been to isolate the government and back the dissidents.
That's something Cuba hawks in Congress have seized upon, lambasting President Obama for appeasing a dictator.That's something Cuba hawks in Congress have seized upon, lambasting President Obama for appeasing a dictator.
They form a small but passionate group of mostly Cuban Americans, some of whom are running for president. They form a small but passionate group of mostly Cuban-Americans - some of whom are running for president.
What is more noteworthy, though, is how relatively uncontroversial this historic change has been in both Cuba and America, and how fast it took place once the decision was announced.What is more noteworthy, though, is how relatively uncontroversial this historic change has been in both Cuba and America, and how fast it took place once the decision was announced.
The momentum will probably slow now - restoring diplomatic relations was the easy part - but many commemorating the change of direction are convinced it's irreversible.The momentum will probably slow now - restoring diplomatic relations was the easy part - but many commemorating the change of direction are convinced it's irreversible.