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Spotlight: Cuba agrees with U.S. to restore diplomatic ties, calls for lifting embargo

Xinhua, July 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

After five decades of icy relations and more than six months of negotiations, Cuba agreed with the United States to restore diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies in their respective capitals as of July 20, an official statement released by Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minrex) said Wednesday.

According to Minrex, Jeffrey DeLaurentis, head of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, delivered a letter addressed to Cuban President Raul Castro from his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama, which "confirms the decision to reestablish diplomatic relations between the two countries and open permanent diplomatic missions in their respective embassies, starting July 20, 2015."

Meanwhile, Ramon Cabanas Rodriguez, head of Cuba's Interests Section in Washington, was received Wednesday morning at the State Department by Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken, to whom he delivered a letter from Castro to Obama, which confirmed the Republic of Cuba's decision to reestablish diplomatic ties with the United States, Cuban state daily Granma reported.

Granma said that prior to Obama's 11 a.m. address from Washington to officially announce the historic step, the two countries exchanged missives confirming their decision to restore ties and open embassies starting July 20.

Cuban and U.S. diplomats have been working since January to fulfill the agreement announced by the two heads of state on Dec. 17 regarding their decision to restore ties broken off in January 1961 as part of sanctions against the revolution led by Fidel Castro.

The historic announcement was followed by four rounds of negotiations in Havana and Washington, to hash out details, such as the number of diplomatic personnel and the limits on their freedom of movement, and other mutual concerns.

LIFTING EMBARGO "ESSENTIAL"

Having full diplomatic missions in Havana and Washington is just one step in normalizing bilateral ties. Cuba and the U.S. will have to work on more difficult issues.

With the restoration of diplomatic relations, it will be essential for U.S. to lift the half-century trade embargo, among other measures, if it seeks to normalize ties with the Caribbean nation, Cuba said in the declaration.

Restoring diplomatic ties and reopening embassies "concludes the first stage of what will be a long and complex process towards normalizing bilateral ties," as many a issue derived from past policies continue to affect the people and the country of Cuba and will have to be resolved, Cuba said.

"There cannot be normal ties between Cuba and the United States as long as the economic, commercial and financial blockade rigorously applied harms and causes shortages for the Cuban people, " the government said.

The embargo, which Cuba calls a blockade, has effectively blocked countries from doing business with the island. It is "the main obstacle to the development of our economy. It violates International Law and affects the interests of all countries, including the United States," the government added.

In addition to lifting the embargo, Cuba also calls on the U.S. to "return the territory illegally occupied by the Guantanamo Naval Base, cease radio and television broadcasts towards Cuba that violate international norms and Cuba's sovereignty, eliminate programs designed to foster internal revolt and instability, and compensate the Cuban people for the human and economic harm caused by U.S. policies."

After listing its grievances, the government acknowledged the recent goodwill gesture from President Obama, in removing Cuba from Washington's list of state sponsors of terrorism.

There will be an official opening ceremony on July 20 at Cuba's embassy in Washington, to be attended by a Cuban delegation headed by Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Minrex said.

In the speech in Washington Wednesday morning, Obama said Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Havana later this summer to raise the American flag over the U.S. embassy.

"This is a historic step in our efforts to normalize relations with the Cuban government and people, and begin a new chapter with our neighbors in the Americas," said Obama.

DIFFERENCES REMAIN

In the statement, Obama admitted that there had been very real, profound differences between the two countries, and the two countries will " continue to have very serious differences" on issues including freedom of speech and access to information, vowing that the U.S. "will not hesitate to speak out when we see actions that contradict those values."

"Nobody expects Cuba to be transformed overnight. But I believe American engagement through the embassy, our businesses and, most of all, through our people, is the best way to advance our interests and support for democracy and human rights," Obama said.

However, Cuba has long been opposed to U.S. interference in the island.

To establish ties based on mutual respect, Washington must begin by recognizing Cuba's independence and right to choose a system of government different from its own, noted Cuban government.

Josefina Vidal, director general for U.S. affairs at Minrex, once said that there were activities carried out in the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, like organizing, training, supporting, financing and supplying small groups of people who act against Cuba's government.

For the Cuban government, "independent journalists" training courses, given in the U.S. Interests Section or in U.S. diplomats' houses in Cuba, form part of the U.S. efforts to undermine the government and the internal order in the Caribbean island.

Those actions were unacceptable, said Vidal, adding this type of behavior has also been denounced by top Cuban leader Raul Castro.

While Obama said that Washington's foreign policy was not aimed at a regime change in Cuba, the U.S. government actions had indicated the opposite, Vidal said in May.

"Real life tells us that they are still requesting multi- million-dollar funding to sustain these types of programs which Cuba considers illegal," she said.

China welcomes and supports Cuba and the U.S. in carrying forward normalization of their ties.

The resumption of Cuba-U.S. diplomatic ties is conducive to the common interests of the two countries and their people, said China 's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Wednesday.

China hopes the U.S. will lift its blockade and sanctions against Cuba as soon as possible and develop normal relations with Cuba on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, said Hua. Endite