U.S., Cuba announce plans to open embassies
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says the reopening of embassies in Havana and Washington is another demonstration that the U.S. doesn't have to be imprisoned by the past.
Obama is announcing the formal restoration of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States. He's calling it an "historic step."
Obama says Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Havana over the summer to raise the American flag over the embassy.
The president says the reopening of a full embassy in Havana means American diplomats will be able to engage directly with Cuban government officials, civil society leaders and ordinary Cubans. He's referring to the freedom of movement for U.S. diplomats that had been a sticking point in negotiations to reopen the embassies.
Obama is also calling on Congress to lift the U.S. embargo on Cuba. He says lawmakers should listen to the Cuban people and the American people who oppose maintaining economic sanctions against the island nation.
The U.S. and Cuba have been negotiating the reestablishment of embassies following the Dec. 17 announcement that they would move to restore ties.
For President Obama, ending Washington's half-century freeze with Cuba is seen as a major element of his foreign policy legacy. He has long touted the value of engagement and argued that the U.S. embargo on the communist island just 90 miles south of Florida was ineffective.
Since the late 1970s, the United States and Cuba have operated diplomatic missions called interests sections in each other's capitals. The missions are technically under the protection of Switzerland and do not enjoy the same status as full embassies.
While the opening of embassies marks a major milestone in the thaw between the U.S. and Cuba, significant issues remain as the countries look to normalize relations.
Speaking in Vienna, where he was attending nuclear talks with Iran, Kerry said the former Cold War foes still have sharp differences over democracy, human rights and other matters.
An embassy, he said, will allow the U.S. to engage the Cuban government and people, and help Americans traveling to the island.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) said, "Today's announcement of an agreement re-establishing formal relations and opening embassies between the United States and Cuba marks the beginning of a new era in American diplomacy in Latin America. I'm confident a policy of engagement rather than isolation will be more effective in advancing American interests and democratic values in Cuba. The United States, Cuba and Virginia stand to benefit from this renewed relationship, which will bring about increased trade and travel as well as an exchange of ideas that has been missing for 54 years. The normalization of U.S.-Cuba ties will also remove an obstacle that has often limited American diplomacy with other nations in the Western Hemisphere."
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