Feature: Restoration of U.S.-Cuba diplomatic ties brings hope, joy to Cubans

The announcement that diplomatic ties between Cuba and the United States will be restored has brought hope and joy to ordinary Cubans.

The decision is "very good for families," said Marta Torres, "very good for our people and their relatives in the United States."

Cubans have been closely following negotiations that preceded Wednesday's announcement, which is expected to ease travel and communication between the two nations.

Cuban television interrupted its regularly scheduled programming early Wednesday to broadcast the content of a letter from Cuban President Raul Castro to his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama, confirming the decision to restore diplomatic ties, which were broken off in 1961.

The television also broadcast Obama's address live from the White House, in which he described the decision as "a historic step forward in our efforts to normalize ties with the government and the people of Cuba."

Esther Cobas, who is in her 80s, said, "It took too long. This should have happened a lot earlier, because these feuds don't benefit anyone, neither us nor them," adding she was hopeful the development will allow her to travel to the United States to get to know her great-grandchildren.

Meanwhile, a sizable community of Cuban expatriates living in the United States, mainly in Miami, Florida, welcome the development.

Ana Delia Alfaro, a Cuban student living in the United States, said she was "happy, because this will benefit Cubans, those of us who are here, and those who are there as well."

While common people were optimistic about the benefits a restoration of diplomatic relations would bring, the Cuban government saw difficulties lying ahead to normalize ties and better protect the rights of its citizens.

The act of 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 issues derived from past policies continue to affect the people and the country of Cuba and will have to be resolved, the Cuban government said in a statement.

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

Cuba agreed with the United States to restore diplomatic relations and reopen embassies in their respective capitals as of July 20, after five decades of icy relations and more than six months of negotiations.

Washington's embassy in Havana will be housed in what is currently the U.S. Interests Section, a big block building overlooking the city's seaside promenade.

The two nations decided to open respective Interests Sections following an agreement in 1977 between then Presidents Fidel Castro and Jimmy Carter.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to travel to Cuba to raise the U.S. flag at the site during its official opening on July 20. Endi