After decades of official hostility between the United States and Cuba, Obama has successfully nudged the two toward normal relations.
Advertisement
Despite the enthusiasm in both the USA and Cuba about the new relationship between the former foes, Obama acknowledged the deep differences that persist, including on human rights and democracy. For many years, he has pointed out the flaws in the American system – economic inequality; the death penalty; racial discrimination; wars overseas.
Obama arrived in Argentina late Tuesday for the first state visit by a USA president since 1997.
Nobody is expecting quick solutions, but the very fact that a US President is here in Cuba is proof that things have come a long way since the Cold War.
Immediately after the speech, Obama left to meet with dissidents who have been harassed and sometimes arrested under Castro’s rule including Berta Soler, the leader of the Ladies in White, and veteran activist Elizardo Sanchez.
“The most important effect of the whole visit in my view is the “I can hardly believe my eyes” factor that it is happening”, said Paul Webster Hare, who teaches worldwide relations at Boston University.
Castro appeared agitated at times during the questioning, professing to not understand whether inquiries were directed to him. During a news conference Monday, Castro denied that the country has any long-term political prisoners, challenging reporters to “give me a name”.
A truculent Castro responded to a serious question about political prisoners by asking, “What political prisoners?”
Cuba has been criticized for briefly detaining demonstrators thousands of times a year but has drastically reduced its practice of handing down long prison sentences for crimes human rights groups consider to be political. Rhodes said, “I’ve shared many lists with the Cuban government”.
JOHN YANG: With state TV beaming the speech into Cuban households, Mr. Obama talked of freedom. One woman held her hand to her mouth in shock.
Obama then appeared to lean in to pat Castro on the back.
But even if the embargo was lifted, Obama said, change must also occur within the island.
Contact with ordinary Cubans was kept to a minimum by President Raul Castro, the 84-year-old younger brother of Fidel.
White House officials said they believe that terrorism is a persistent threat, but one that they can manage.
“I have come here to bury the last remnants of the Cold War in the Americas”, Obama told his hosts in a speech nationally broadcast and translated into Spanish by his Cuban hosts.
Obama and Cuban president Raul Castro sat side by side behind home plate to watch the game along with the thousands that were in attendance at the crowded park.
Obama spent hours on Monday listening to small business owners in a meeting at a state-run brewery, and his speech on Tuesday was littered with references to Cuban entrepreneurs such as a barber whose business was growing fast. Three explosions hit the Belgium’s worldwide airport, including the city’s subway station in what the local federal prosecutors classified as terrorist attacks that took many lives, with three Americans who are injured. He had additional business to do in Havana today, including a major address to the Cuban people.
Obama next went to the new U.S. Embassy in Havana where he met with Cuban dissidents and members of civil society.
Advertisement
The president’s visit was a crowning moment in his and Castro’s bid to restore ties after a half-century diplomatic freeze.
