Majority of Americans favor diplomatic ties with Cuba

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”.

A few hours later at the State Department, Kerry said that the process of completely normalizing relations will be “long and complex” and it will include “moments… of frustration”, but this is a “long overdue journey”. The opening of the embassies marks another step toward changing that.

But after a year and a half of secret talks, the two countries announced in December they agreed to restore relations.

They have also called on Cuba to improve its record on human rights and democracy.

Three Cuban soldiers dressed in full regalia marched out of the embassy before attaching the flag to a pole in front of the three-story building.

There were competing chants from the crowd outside the gates. “Cuba si, embargo no!” Another, smaller group of counter-demonstrators was heard yelling, “Cuba si, Fidel no!”

Since the 1970s, each was represented by limited-service interests sections at their capitals.

House Republicans responded by adding an amendment to the State Department’s budget appropriation prohibiting any new spending on US facilities in Havana.

Embassy staff flashed new badges and business cards, and the website, Twitter feed and Facebook page of the mission changed. But no American flag will fly there until a visit by Kerry expected next month.

The US delegation was headed by assistant secretary of state Roberta Jacobson. Around 4 a.m. ET and with little fanfare, maintenance workers placed the Cuban flag in the lobby of the State Department alongside those of other nations with which the USA has diplomatic ties. On July 1, issues of American diplomats’ access to ordinary Cubans were resolved and the July 20 date was set for the restoration of full relations.

Obama has sought engagement with communist Cuba since he first took office and has progressively loosened restrictions on travel and remittances to the island.

“This embassy will only serve to further legitimise repressive regime”.

The arrests of peaceful protesters in Cuba have also doubled in the past year and President Obama continues to make concessions to the Castro brothers.

Mr. Rodriguez thanked President Obama on behalf of the Cuban people and government for pursuing a new era of U.S.-Cuban relations and “for his determination to lift the blockade” on American trade with the island.

Cuba’s main complaint is the longstanding embargo.

COHA, posted at Links worldwide Journal of Socialist Renewal – Amid cheers of “Cuba sí, bloqueo no” (Cuba yes, embargo no), hundreds gathered on Washington, DC’s busy 16th Street to bear witness to the symbolic close to one of the more misguided chapters of US foreign policy.

“It’s a day to be celebrated, it’s an important day that will bring new opportunities”, said 18-year-old Cuban Adriel Gonzales, who had the honor of raising the Cuban flag outside the USA embassy in Havana.