Hundreds of Cubans gathered outside the former U.S. Interests Section, newly emblazoned with the letters “Embassy of the United States of America”.
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Not all the talk was as warm as the sunny summer day. “We do think this represents a great opportunity for Mobile”, said Christina Stimpson, Director of worldwide Trade at the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce.
Thale says the opening of the U.S. embassy in Cuba is a nice gesture – “kind of like popping the cork of the champagne right after the contract has been signed”.
The US Army Brass Quintet will be performing it. Before the flag-raising ceremony it is reported poem will be recited by Richard Blanco, entitled “Matters of the Sea”.
“Cuba isn’t a place where there’s racial discrimination, police brutality or deaths resulting from those problems”, Rodriguez said.
Cuban dissident Antonio Rodiles is not holding his breath.
“The notion that the Cuban people will be allowed freedom of speech and freedom of information now that President Obama has made concessions to the very government denying them these rights is complete fiction.”
Cuba says the embargo — which it calls a blockade — is hugely damaging to its economy.
President Barack Obama chose to shift US policy toward Cuba and the move would secure his legacy, experts told Sputnik on Friday.
Kerry described the hoisting of the flag as a “historic moment” speaking during the ceremony today.
Jim Tracy, Mike East and Larry C. Morris received a standing ovation at the seaside diplomatic mission as they handed a folded flag to three active Marines, who raised it to a brass band rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner“.
The United States is seeking the return of fugitives granted asylum in Cuba and backs the claims of Americans whose property was nationalized in the years after Fidel Castro seized power in a 1959 revolution.
“I am from the newer generations that want to live in a country where access to the Internet and to new technologies is considered is normal”.
“Opening the door to an embassy in Cuba will not open the door to democracy for the Cuban people”.
He also said the two governments have distinct positions on various issues, including national sovereignty, democracy, human rights, political models, global law, and the interpretation of historical events.
“We had an anachronism in our embargo and all for over 50 years and it accomplished absolutely nothing”.
Despite the detente, normalization of relations remains a distant goal.
With Cuban authorities suspicious of Washington’s call for reform after decades of hostility, Kerry quickly added that “Cuba’s future is for Cubans to shape”. While the Cubans celebrated with a flag-raising in Washington on July 20, the Americans waited until Kerry could travel to Havana.
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The dissidents were not invited to the embassy ceremony to avoid tensions with Cuban officials who typically boycott events attended by the country’s small political opposition.
