Roundup: LatAm hails renewed Cuba-U.S. ties, calls for end to embargo

Countries throughout Latin America hailed on Tuesday the restoration of the Cuba-U.S. diplomatic ties, which culminated Monday with the reopening of their respective embassies.

With no exception, Latin American countries also called for an end to the half-century trade embargo against Cuba, which was imposed by the United States in 1960.

The government of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez said it greeted the news "with satisfaction."

The president added that "this new step in the process of normalizing relations between the two countries confirms that dialogue, respect for sovereignty of nations and peoples, and abiding by international law are the only legitimate means to resolve differences."

The statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said it hoped this initial step would "immediately be followed with the lifting of the unjust and illegal embargo inflicted on the Cuban people."

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a staunch ally of the Cuban government, welcomed the rapprochement, which came after more than 50 years of hostility since Washington severed ties with Cuba's revolutionary government.

"The world hopes this step will lead to new respectful relations on equal terms with Cuba and Our America," Maduro said via Twitter.

Maduro also called for ending the embargo, noting that it was designed to topple the Cuban government by sowing discontent among the people.

"Now it's time to struggle to lift the the criminal embargo and overcome interventionism in our region," said Maduro.

The New York Times, which had strongly urged the U.S. government to change tack on Cuba, published an editorial welcoming the rapprochement, calling it "a historic and difficult change."

The daily added that "ultimately, Congress will need to lift the trade embargo, a failed policy."

Ecuador, another close Cuban ally, reiterated its call for the U.S. on the occasion "to rescind the inhumane embargo imposed on the Cuban people and that has caused so much harm."

In Mexico, the daily La Jornada dedicated much of its front page and four inside pages to covering the historic event, with one headline reading "First step towards ending the embargo."

Mexican daily El Universal entitled its story "Cold War ended, embargo continues."

The president of the Mexican Senate Committee on Latin America and the Caribbean, Mariana Gomez del Campo, told Xinhua in an interview that restoring ties will "change the dynamic that divides Latin America, not only economically, but politically and ideologically."

"The impact will be positive on national and regional levels," she said, adding that the restoration of ties shows dialogue and negotiation are much more effective tools than sanctions and penalties.

In addition, she said, the restored Cuba-U.S. ties will allow Mexico to broach pending issues, such as undefined maritime borders in the Gulf of Mexico.

"It's a touchy subject" that, if resolved, would allow Mexico "exploit oil without controversy," she said.

Peruvian media have also given extensive coverage on the event.

"Not just Cuba, but all Latin America is celebrating the opening of Cuba's embassy in Washington and the U.S. embassy in Havana," wrote Cesar Levano, political commentator and director of the daily La Primera.

The ties between the two nations "were not broken off by Cuba, but by the United States," he noted. "The stated objective was to sow hunger and desperation, and to topple the first socialist government in our America."

"For the revolutionary islanders, this is clearly a victory, achieved after 54 years of resistance," wrote Ramiro Escobar, columnist for Peruvian daily La Republica.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez witnessed the flag-raising ceremony that marked the reopening of Cuba's embassy in Washington. He later held a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

Kerry is expected to travel to Havana on Aug. 14 to attend the flag-raising ceremony at the U.S. embassy, which will mark the first visit to Cuba by a U.S. secretary of state since 1945. Endi