Cuban Embassy returns to the US

The United States and Cuba quietly ushered in a new era of post-Cold War relations on Monday, formally restoring diplomatic ties severed more than five decades ago and re-establishing embassies in each other’s capitals.

Barack Obama has tried to mend the US’ relationship with Cuba since being elected in 2008, gradually raising restrictions on travel to the island.

“But we strongly believe that we can both cooperate and coexist in a civilised way, based on the respect for these differences and the development of a constructive dialogue oriented to the wellbeing of our countries and peoples, and this continent, and the entire world”, he said.

President Obama’s administration and the Cuban government had set July 20 as the date that diplomatic relations between the countries would be completely renewed.

Before dawn yesterday, workers hung the Cuban flag in the lobby of the State Department alongside the banners of other countries with which the United States has diplomatic relations.

“It’s hard, because there’s been so much mistrust between the two sides, maybe even dislike, and so many things that Cuba feels put upon: Guantanamo, the migration policy”, said Vicki Huddleston, former head of US Interests Section in Havana, which has provided consular services in the absence of an embassy.

The United States and Cuba restored full diplomatic relations and reopened their embassies.

Earlier on Monday, Rodriguez oversaw the Cuban flag being raised there for the first time in more than half a century.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, who met with Rodriguez after the embassy’s reopening, will travel to Havana on 14 August to preside over the flag-raising ceremony at the USA embassy. Rodriguez said that before Havana could agree to fully normalized relations, the US must return the military base at Guantanamo to Cuba.

Among them: thorny disputes over mutual claims for economic reparations, Havana’s insistence on the end of the 53-year-old trade embargo and USA calls for Cuba to improve on human rights and democracy.

Kerry acknowledged that Cuba felt strongly about Guantanamo, but said it wasn’t something the US was willing to discuss at the moment, though that could change.

Serious differences remain between the United States and Communist-ruled Cuba, and efforts toward full normalization of ties are expected to proceed slowly for now.

They were referring to Cuba’s revolutionary leader Fidel Castro and his brother Raul Castro, who is now the President of the Communist-run Caribb-ean island.

A Cuban flag flies among empty flag polls that obscure the then U.S. Interests Section. Another tough issue is compensation for American property seized after the 1959 Cuban revolution led by Fidel Castro.

Members of Congress, both for and against rapprochement with Cuba, were quick to react. Thus, he said work would begin apace on normalization.

Cuba was removed from US Terrorist Sponsor list on April 2015, when Obama administration said so. “We wanted the secretary to be there to oversee these important events”, a State Department official said.