“The Community looks forward to even more positive action in this regard and in particular to the United States Congress removing the out-dated and unjust trade and economic embargo against Cuba”. These dissidents are opposed to the one-party political system of Cuba.
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“We will continue to urge the Cuban government to fulfill its obligations under United Nations and Inter-American human rights covenants”, Kerry said, his words accurately translated into Spanish and broadcast live on Cuban state television.
Prior to a press conference, Rodriguez and Kerry held official talks behind closed doors for nearly an hour in the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is very close to the newly reopened US embassy, reported Xinhua.
With the Straits of Florida rippling blue behind him, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry stood Friday morning at the northern tip of Havana, Cuba, where the American flag was to be raised above the U.S. Embassy.
Cubans as well as Cuban-Americans who came down to Havana for the historic event conceded the flag-raising ceremony is only the beginning of a long and uncertain process.
“Cuba may never be the same again, but I really believe if the Cuban people have the light of the Americans there then they will begin to get a chance to have a better life”, said Vesa.
“The Cuban government needs to act accordingly and be a little more flexible so the population can see more benefits”, Morales said. “We are just literally months into this after 54 years”, Kerry said.
As a military band played The Star-Spangled Banner, they carefully raised the Stars and Stripes up the gleaming flagpole at 10:37 a.m., where it drooped in a hazy sky.
Cuba says the embargo — which it calls a blockade — is hugely damaging to its economy.
The ceremony refused entry to dissidents, a decision Mr Bush described as “especially insulting” and “yes another concession to the Castros”.
Castro, who handed power to his brother Raul in 2008 because of failing health, met with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Bolivian President Evo Morales, both staunch supporters of Havana’s Communist government.
With ties now restored, there are plenty of hurdles along the way to normal relations between the two neighbors.
Like Obama, Kerry said the longtime U.S. strategy of trying to isolate Cuba and provoke regime change by choking off trade and fomenting grass-roots agitation had failed. After leading the Cuban Revolution of 1959, Fidel Castro drew Cuba into alliance with the Soviet Union, leading to decades of confrontation with the United States.
Kerry was due to meet privately later with Cuban dissidents, who long counted Washington as their main ally and have voiced concern the new thaw will leave them out in the cold.
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“President Obama and his administration will advocate the lifting of the embargo”, he said, while acknowledging that the Obama administration would have a tough fight in Congress over the issue.
