12/18/2014
Obama: U.S. Policy of Isolation Toward Cuba Has “Failed”
In an historic 15-minute speech from the White House broadcast live on television, the U.S. President announced the beginning of a process to normalize diplomatic relations between the two nations (VIDEO)
WASHINGTON/HAVANA – President Barack Obama announced on Wednesday an historic shift in U.S. relations with Cuba because, he said, the current “outdated” policy “has failed to advance our interests” for decades and he asked for an “honest” debate in Congress about ending the embargo imposed on the island in 1961.
In an historic 15-minute speech from the White House broadcast live on television, Obama announced the beginning of a process to normalize diplomatic relations between the two nations, which were broken in 1961, and which includes opening embassies in Washington and Havana in the coming months.
On Tuesday, Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro spoke by telephone to seal the agreement after a lengthy negotiation process.
“Neither the American, nor Cuban people are well served by a rigid policy that is rooted in events that took place before most of us were born,” said Obama.
“Isolation does not work,” he said. “It’s time for a new approach” toward Cuba.
According to U.S. government officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity in a telephone conference with reporters, the secret conversations between the U.S. and Cuban delegations to explore the idea of normalizing relations began more than a year ago and the meetings were held mainly in Canada.
The Vatican also facilitated the contacts, receiving delegations of both countries, and Pope Francis involved himself personally in the talks by sending letters to Obama and Raul Castro in which he pushed for Cuba’s release of imprisoned U.S. subcontractor Alan Gross and the U.S. release of three Cuban spies still serving sentences in the United States.
Former Cuban President Fidel Castro “did not participate in the discussions” directly, but he authorized them, according to the U.S. officials.
The president also said that “a major obstacle” stood in the way of normalizing relations: the imprisonment of Gross, a U.S. citizen, in Cuba for five years.
Gross was released on Wednesday by the Cuban government “on humanitarian grounds” and has already returned to the United States, while the three Cuban spies from the so-called “Group of Five” that had been imprisoned in the United States since 1998 also returned to Havana.
The three spies – Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labañino and Antonio Guerrero – were released in exchange for a U.S. intelligence official who had been in prison in Cuba for almost 20 years, the White House said.
In addition, Cuba agreed, within the framework of this accord, to release more than 50 political prisoners, according to the U.S. officials.
Obama said that Washington would continue to support civil society in Cuba, but “where we disagree, we will raise those differences directly – as we will continue to do on issues related to democracy and human rights in Cuba. But I believe that we can do more to support the Cuban people and promote our values through engagement.”
The president said that he did not expect the changes he was announcing to cause an overnight transformation in Cuban society.
But he defended his position that a “policy of compromise” with the communist-ruled island can be much more effective in producing real changes than “isolation,” and that trying to bring about the collapse of Cuba does not serve U.S. interests.
Along those lines, he asked Congress starting in January, when it will be fully controlled by the Republicans, to begin a “serious and honest” debate about the unilateral economic embargo Washington imposed on Cuba during John F. Kennedy’s presidency.
The measures announced Wednesday by Obama include easing restrictions on travel and trade between the United States and Cuba, as well as making it easier for Cubans to receive remittances from U.S. territory.
Obama also said he had asked Secretary of State John Kerry to review Cuba’s position on the list of countries Washington considers to be sponsors of terrorism.
The U.S. president also confirmed on Wednesday his participation at the Summit of the Americas to be held in Panama in April 2015 and to which Cuba has been invited.
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Pope Happy Over Re-Establishment of U.S.-Cuba Relations
Surprise on Miami’s Calle Ocho after Announcement of Dialogue with Cuba
UN: Restoration of U.S.-Cuba Diplomatic Ties “Very Positive”
Puerto Rico: U.S. Shift on Cuba Will Have Impact on Caribbean Trade, Tourism
Gross Thanks Obama after Release, Expresses Support for Cuba Policy Shift
Kennedy Foundation Welcomes Cuba Rapprochement
Republicans Slam Obama for Cuba Decision
Spain Welcomes Dialogue Between Cuba and U.S.
U.S., Cuba to Begin Dialogue after Six Decades of Animosity
source
Obama: U.S. Policy of Isolation Toward Cuba Has “Failed”
In an historic 15-minute speech from the White House broadcast live on television, the U.S. President announced the beginning of a process to normalize diplomatic relations between the two nations (VIDEO)
WASHINGTON/HAVANA – President Barack Obama announced on Wednesday an historic shift in U.S. relations with Cuba because, he said, the current “outdated” policy “has failed to advance our interests” for decades and he asked for an “honest” debate in Congress about ending the embargo imposed on the island in 1961.In an historic 15-minute speech from the White House broadcast live on television, Obama announced the beginning of a process to normalize diplomatic relations between the two nations, which were broken in 1961, and which includes opening embassies in Washington and Havana in the coming months.
On Tuesday, Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro spoke by telephone to seal the agreement after a lengthy negotiation process.
“Neither the American, nor Cuban people are well served by a rigid policy that is rooted in events that took place before most of us were born,” said Obama.
“Isolation does not work,” he said. “It’s time for a new approach” toward Cuba.
According to U.S. government officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity in a telephone conference with reporters, the secret conversations between the U.S. and Cuban delegations to explore the idea of normalizing relations began more than a year ago and the meetings were held mainly in Canada.
The Vatican also facilitated the contacts, receiving delegations of both countries, and Pope Francis involved himself personally in the talks by sending letters to Obama and Raul Castro in which he pushed for Cuba’s release of imprisoned U.S. subcontractor Alan Gross and the U.S. release of three Cuban spies still serving sentences in the United States.
Former Cuban President Fidel Castro “did not participate in the discussions” directly, but he authorized them, according to the U.S. officials.
The president also said that “a major obstacle” stood in the way of normalizing relations: the imprisonment of Gross, a U.S. citizen, in Cuba for five years.
Gross was released on Wednesday by the Cuban government “on humanitarian grounds” and has already returned to the United States, while the three Cuban spies from the so-called “Group of Five” that had been imprisoned in the United States since 1998 also returned to Havana.
The three spies – Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labañino and Antonio Guerrero – were released in exchange for a U.S. intelligence official who had been in prison in Cuba for almost 20 years, the White House said.
In addition, Cuba agreed, within the framework of this accord, to release more than 50 political prisoners, according to the U.S. officials.
Obama said that Washington would continue to support civil society in Cuba, but “where we disagree, we will raise those differences directly – as we will continue to do on issues related to democracy and human rights in Cuba. But I believe that we can do more to support the Cuban people and promote our values through engagement.”
The president said that he did not expect the changes he was announcing to cause an overnight transformation in Cuban society.
But he defended his position that a “policy of compromise” with the communist-ruled island can be much more effective in producing real changes than “isolation,” and that trying to bring about the collapse of Cuba does not serve U.S. interests.
Along those lines, he asked Congress starting in January, when it will be fully controlled by the Republicans, to begin a “serious and honest” debate about the unilateral economic embargo Washington imposed on Cuba during John F. Kennedy’s presidency.
The measures announced Wednesday by Obama include easing restrictions on travel and trade between the United States and Cuba, as well as making it easier for Cubans to receive remittances from U.S. territory.
Obama also said he had asked Secretary of State John Kerry to review Cuba’s position on the list of countries Washington considers to be sponsors of terrorism.
The U.S. president also confirmed on Wednesday his participation at the Summit of the Americas to be held in Panama in April 2015 and to which Cuba has been invited.
Cuba’s Castro Announces Restoration of Relations with U.S.
Pope Happy Over Re-Establishment of U.S.-Cuba Relations
Surprise on Miami’s Calle Ocho after Announcement of Dialogue with Cuba
UN: Restoration of U.S.-Cuba Diplomatic Ties “Very Positive”
Puerto Rico: U.S. Shift on Cuba Will Have Impact on Caribbean Trade, Tourism
Gross Thanks Obama after Release, Expresses Support for Cuba Policy Shift
Kennedy Foundation Welcomes Cuba Rapprochement
Republicans Slam Obama for Cuba Decision
Spain Welcomes Dialogue Between Cuba and U.S.
U.S., Cuba to Begin Dialogue after Six Decades of Animosity
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