And although the Castro regime has held fewer political prisoners in recent years, it still engages in political persecution – including arresting dozens at a protest march just hours before Air Force One touched down.
Advertisement
“Give me a list and I will release them immediately”, Castro said.
“I actually welcome President Castro commenting on some of the areas where he feels that we’re falling short, because I think we should not be immune or afraid of criticism or discussion as well”, Obama said.
Whether Obama and Castro could use the meeting, one of the first since Cuba’s 1959 revolution and the only one in Cuba, to further the ambitious diplomatic experiment they started 15 months ago was an open question, infusing Obama’s historic trip to Cuba with uncertainty and tension for both governments.
“The Cuban people have been very welcoming”, she said. Obama’s visit is another step toward his goal of normalizing relations with Cuba, after he already has loosened travel and trade restrictions. He now has both Democratic and Republican elected officials with him on his Cuba trip and hopes Congress may act after the November 8 presidential election.
Obama sought to reassure Cubans wary of the return of U.S. engagement. He argued that no country is, said it is incumbent on all to try to do better and defended his government’s support of what it considers important human rights issues: providing universal, free education and health care. Rhodes said, “I’ve shared many lists with the Cuban government”. Mr Obama announced that tech giant Google had struck a deal to expand wifi and broadband internet on the island 145km south of Florida.
“The president, I think just him being there, sends a huge signal to the people that they’re keeping that hopeful spirit alive”, McMahon said.
The president and first family arrived in Cuba Sunday afternoon, marking the beginning of a historic visit.
Obama and Castro have met twice before: first at the Pan-American summit in Panama and again at the United Nations General Assembly in NY.
But the shared passion of two nations for the game of baseball does not seem enough to quell the controversy over the talent drain from Cuba, which has lost many star players to the lucrative USA market.
In a country where publicly questioning the authority of Castro and his brother and predecessor Fidel is unthinkable for most, and where the docile state-run media nearly always toe the party line, the live broadcast was must-see TV.
While Americans fetishize the new and shiny, Cubans out of necessity tend to cars that were built before Obama was born.
“We had a great tour yesterday”, Mr. Obama said.
Advertisement
Castro dodged a question about whether he preferred Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump by saying it didn’t matter because he couldn’t vote in the United States.
