Poet hopes reading at U.S. embassy in Havana spurs connection

Cuban television has switched from cartoons to live coverage of the U.S. embassy flag-raising, broadcasting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s arrival at Havana’s Jose Marti airport followed by a detailed biography of Kerry’s career.

It’s the first time in 54 years that the flag has flown there. And some lawmakers who are pushing them are taking part in today’s ceremony in Havana, as is Thale. “They wanted to see our government embrace a new approach toward Cuba, laser-focused on empowering the Cuban people and advancing U.S. interests”.

Kerry’s comments drew a firm response from Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, who defended his government at a joint news conference and criticised the United States’ own record on rights, referring to racial strife and police brutality in America.

While the three tracks will proceed simultaneously, Kerry said, Cuban leaders should not expect to see progress on the embargo without improvements in civil liberties in Cuba, which does not allow independent media, political parties other than the ruling communist party or direct election of anything but low-level municipal posts.

Seeking to end the long hostilities, Cuban President Raul Castro and US President Barack Obama announced last December they would restore diplomatic ties, reopen embassies and work to normalise relations.

The weapons are too many and too varied – shooters and passers and defenders, bigs who run the floor like gazelles – and Canada continues to lay waste to the field at the FIBA Americas women’s Olympic basketball qualifier. “The majority of Cubans don’t want to change our system”.

The cold war between the U.S. and Cuba finally ended Friday.

Both the U.S. and Cuban governments say there will be many obstacles and disputes ahead. He voices the hopes of many on the island, expressing “hope for social and economic benefits for all Cubans”. “It’s going to be change a little at a time”, said Chavez.

“On the other hand”, he continued, “maybe what we are seeing is an important change of strategy by which the U.S. now is saying, “OK, there is a legitimate government in Cuba”.

“Over the next two years, two top State Department officials – Hillary Clinton’s chief of staff, Cheryl Mills, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Julissa Reynoso – secretly negotiated with Cuban officials in Creole restaurants in Port-au-Prince, subterranean bars on Manhattan’s East Side, and a hotel lounge in Santo Domingo”, the authors wrote.

“An embassy is reserved for countries we have diplomatic relationships with”, said the senator and GOP presidential candidate.

Cuban leader Fidel Castro marked his 89th birthday (Aug 13) with a newspaper column repeating assertions that the US owes Cuba “numerous millions of dollars” for damages caused by its decades-long embargo.

Among other things, the Trimpa Group paid for polls, performed by Obama’s pollster, John Anzalone, the Atlantic Council and FIU on the issue of Cuba relations.

“What happened yesterday was transcendental, that’s true”, said Rolando Quevedo, a 67-year-old retired driver for a state company. It came from the White House, members of Congress and lobbyists pursuing better relations with the island, and who sought the help of high-ranking church officials, including Cardinal Theodore McCarrick in Washington and Cardinal Sean O’Malley in Boston.