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In normal times I would have welcomed the lifting of the insane 50-year-long embargo against Cuba.
But these are NOT normal times, and I have to ask what strings are attached to this deal.
One thing, I suspect, is that this has something to do with Russia which has had very good relations with Cuba. This may be a strategic decision aimed at heading off Russian influence on America's backdoor.
What it means from the point-of-view of Raul Castro one can only guess.
Obama
announces US will establish embassy in Cuba, lift sanctions
RT,
17
December, 2014
United
States President Barack Obama said Wednesday that the US is
initiating plans to rebuild its relationship with Cuba following
decades of disputes between the two nations.
Speaking
from the White House in Washington, DC, Pres. Obama said Wednesday
that the US is seeking to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba
and soon plans to open an embassy in Havana, authorize sales and
exports between nations and make changes to current travel laws that
for decades have restricted traffic between the two countries.
“Today,
the United States of America is changing its relationship with the
people of Cuba,” Obama
said as he offered to “extend
a hand of friendship”
while unveiling what he called “the
most significant changes in our policy in more than 50 years.”
“We
will end an outdated approach that for decades has failed to advance
our interest,” Obama
said.
Raúl
Castro, the president of Cuba, announced in a statement televised
concurrently with Obama’s that his nation will “reestablish
diplomatic relations” with the US.
Since
the administration of Pres. John F. Kennedy in the 1960s,
restrictions and sanctions have kept the American and Cuban ways of
life from all but converging policies put in place at the dawn of the
Cold War in an attempt to curb the spread of Communism.
Yet
Obama said Wednesday that, while rooted in the best of intentions,
this “rigid policy”
has “had little effect”
a half-century later. Indeed, Obama acknowledged, a Castro still sits
atop the Cuban government as during the Kennedy administration, and
that similar restraints concerning how the US dealt with China and
Vietnam, “once
controversial,”
have long been lifted following decades of disagreements.
“This
is fundamentally about freedom and openness, and also expresses my
belied in the power of people-to-people engagement,”
Obama said of the policy change, adding that he intends such “contact
will ultimately do more to empower the Cuban people.”
John
Kerry, the US secretary of state, will soon begin discussions with
Cuban representatives, the White House said; in April an official
from Havana will be welcomed to attend the annual Summit of Americas.
The
announcements on Wednesday occurred only hours after it was revealed
that Alan Gross, an American citizen imprisoned in Cuba for the last
five years, had been released on humanitarian grounds, along with a
US intelligence official who has similarly been detained for 20
years. On its part, the US has released three individuals from the
so-called “Cuban Five” who had until now been imprisoned.
Announcements
from the Obama and Castro offices came only hours after the head of
the US Agency for International Development, or USAID, announced
plans to resign following a five-year term marred in recent months by
scandals surrounding American efforts to influence Cuban youths.
Russia
spoke favorably of the breakthrough.
“If
those measures Washington has spoken about are put into effect, it
will help to improve the situation around Cuba and it will be a
positive event for us,” Deputy
Foreign Minister Sergey Rybakov said.
Learning
the Art of Coexistence
The New
Opening With the USA
by RAUL
CASTRO
Since
my election as President of the State Council and Council of
Ministers I have reiterated in many occasions our willingness to hold
a respectful dialogue with the United States on the basis of
sovereign equality, in order to deal reciprocally with a wide variety
of topics without detriment to the national Independence and
self-determination of our people.
This
stance was conveyed to the US Government both publicly and privately
by Comrade Fidel on several occasions during our long standing
struggle, stating the willingness to discuss and solve our
differences without renouncing any of our principles.
The
heroic Cuban people, in the wake of serious dangers, aggressions,
adversities and sacrifices has proven to be faithful and will
continue to be faithful to our ideals of independence and social
justice. Strongly united throughout these 56 years of Revolution, we
have kept our unswerving loyalty to those who died in defense of our
principles since the beginning of our independence wars in 1868.
Today,
despite the difficulties, we have embarked on the task of updating
our economic model in order to build a prosperous and sustainable
Socialism.
As
a result of a dialogue at the highest level, which included a phone
conversation I had yesterday with President Obama, we have been able to make headway in the solution of some topics of mutual interest for both nations.
conversation I had yesterday with President Obama, we have been able to make headway in the solution of some topics of mutual interest for both nations.
As
Fidel promised on June 2001,when he said: “They shall return!”
Gerardo, Ramon, and Antonio have arrived today to our homeland.
The
enormous joy of their families and of all our people, who have
relentlessly fought for this goal, is shared by hundreds of
solidarity committees and groups, governments, parliaments,
organizations, institutions, and personalities, who for the last
sixteen years have made tireless efforts demanding their release. We
convey our deepest gratitude and commitment to all of them.
President
Obama’s decision deserves the respect and acknowledgement of our
people.
I
wish to thank and acknowledge the support of the Vatican, most
particularly the support of Pope Francisco in the efforts for
improving relations between Cuba and the United States. I also want
to thank the Government of Canada for facilitating the high-level
dialogue between the two countries.
In
turn, we have decided to release and send back to the United States a
spy of Cuban origin who was working for that nation.
On
the other hand, and for humanitarian reasons, today we have also sent
the American citizen Alan Gross back to his country.
Unilaterally,
as has always been our practice, and in strict compliance with the
provisions of our legal system, the concerned prisoners have received
legal benefits, including the release of those persons that the
Government of the United States had conveyed their interest in.
We
have also agreed to renew diplomatic relations.
This
in no way means that the heart of the matter has been solved. The
economic, commercial, and financial blockade, which causes enormous
human and economic damages to our country, must case.
Though
the blockade has been codified into law, the President of the United
States has the executive authority to modify its implementation.
We
propose to the Government of the United States the adoption of mutual
steps to improve the bilateral atmosphere and advance towards
normalization of relations between our two countries, based on the
principles of International Law and the United Nations Carter.
Cuba
reiterates its willingness to cooperate in multilateral bodies, such
as the United Nations.
While
acknowledging our profound differences, particularly on issues
related to national sovereignty, democracy, human rights and foreign
policy, I reaffirm our willingness to dialogue on all these issues.
I
call upon the Government of the United States to remove the obstacles
hindering or restricting ties between peoples, families, and citizens
of both countries, particularly restrictions on travelling, direct
post services, and telecommunications.
The
progress made in our exchanges proves that it is possible to find
solutions to many problems.
As
we have reiterated, we must learn the art of coexisting with our
differences in a civilized manner.
Raul
Castro is
president of Cuba.
This
is the text of Cuban President Raul Castro’s address to the
nation this Wednesday broadcast on radio and television on the recent
developments in the Cuba-US relations.
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