12/19/2014
White House Won’t Rule Out Raul Castro Visit to U.S.
WASHINGTON – The administration does not rule out the possibility of a visit to the United States by Cuban leader Raul Castro, the White House said Thursday, a day after President Barack Obama announced plans to restore bilateral diplomatic ties after more than 50 years.
“I wouldn’t rule out a visit from President Castro,” spokesman Josh Earnest said in response to a question from a reporter during the daily press briefing at the White House.
He made a point, however, of saying that the question was “hypothetical” in the absence of any proposal for such a visit.
“I don’t know that Mr. Castro has necessarily indicted the desire to travel to the United States and visit the White House,” Earnest said.
Obama and Castro announced the plans for normalization Wednesday in simultaneous televised addresses.
The agreement was accompanied by the exchange of three Cuban spies for one U.S. intelligence officer held in Havana, and by Cuba’s “humanitarian release” of American government subcontractor Alan Gross.
Earnest said Wednesday that Obama would consider visiting Cuba if the opportunity presented itself.
“Having an open relationship in which the president engages with the leaders of other countries can actually serve as a useful way to shine a spotlight on the shortcomings of other countries’ records as it relates to human rights,” the White House spokesman said Thursday.
source
White House Won’t Rule Out Raul Castro Visit to U.S.
WASHINGTON – The administration does not rule out the possibility of a visit to the United States by Cuban leader Raul Castro, the White House said Thursday, a day after President Barack Obama announced plans to restore bilateral diplomatic ties after more than 50 years.“I wouldn’t rule out a visit from President Castro,” spokesman Josh Earnest said in response to a question from a reporter during the daily press briefing at the White House.
He made a point, however, of saying that the question was “hypothetical” in the absence of any proposal for such a visit.
“I don’t know that Mr. Castro has necessarily indicted the desire to travel to the United States and visit the White House,” Earnest said.
Obama and Castro announced the plans for normalization Wednesday in simultaneous televised addresses.
The agreement was accompanied by the exchange of three Cuban spies for one U.S. intelligence officer held in Havana, and by Cuba’s “humanitarian release” of American government subcontractor Alan Gross.
Earnest said Wednesday that Obama would consider visiting Cuba if the opportunity presented itself.
“Having an open relationship in which the president engages with the leaders of other countries can actually serve as a useful way to shine a spotlight on the shortcomings of other countries’ records as it relates to human rights,” the White House spokesman said Thursday.
source
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