Cuba and USA formally restore diplomatic relations

Gov. Rick Scott and Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez Cantera took time out of their schedules Monday – which each listed “no scheduled events” – to denounce the revival of diplomatic ties between Cuba and the United States.

033-c-08-(Peter Orsi, AP correspondent)-“normalizing the relations“-AP correspondent Peter Orsi reports there’s a long way to go for the US and Cuba even with the opening of embassies”.

“Diplomatic relations with the U.S. are a privilege and must be earned, yet the Cuban government refuses to make any substantial changes to uphold democratic principles and human rights since the December 17th announcement”, Menendez said”.

On July 1, the two countries agreed to restoration of ties, however, serious differences yet remain including the USA economic embargo and restrictions on Americans wanting to travel to Cuba.

President Raul Castro has urged President Barack Obama to lift it, calling it the main stumbling block towards normalisations.

Despite the resumption of full diplomatic relations, Washington and Havana continue to wrangle over a series of heated disputes, including the U.S.-imposed blockade on the communist island nation and Cuba’s human rights record.

Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush underscored his opposition on Twitter: “Obama’s rush to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba is wrong”.

Hundreds of people cheered outside of the embassy as the Cuban national anthem was played and three Cuban soldiers raised the flag, the CS Monitor reported.

“It is true there are profound differences… with regard to our views about the exercise of human rights by all citizens and in the whole planet… which will inevitably persist”, said Rodriguez.

A crowd of about 100 Cubans, tourists and Cuban-Americans gathered in front, many clutching small US flags.

A short time later, Cuban officials, including Rodriguez, attended an opening celebration and flag-raising ceremony at Cuba’s Washington embassy.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) doubled down Monday on his pledge to undermine the Obama administration’s push to normalize relations with Cuba, after the country reopened its embassy in Washington after 54 years.

Earlier, in the pre-dawn quiet, the red, white and blue Cuban flag was hoisted at the U.S. State Department, alongside the flags of the other countries that have diplomatic relations with the United States.

“The building was closed 1961-1977; it reopened its doors in 1977 as the U.S. Interests Section” .

It will not be raised at the newly-restored U.S. embassy in Havana, however, until Kerry’s visit next month.

Both interests sections have technically operated as part of Switzerland’s embassies in Washington and Havana.

By contrast, only 39 percent approve of his handling of the USA role in world affairs.

The two countries, Cuba and United States had a long history of relation discord.

Declaring the longstanding policy a failure that had not achieved any of its intended results, Obama declared that the USA could not keep doing the same thing and expect a change.