U.S., Cuba restore full diplomatic relations

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla was to travel to the Cuban Embassy in Washington to raise his country’s flag, an event that Cuban government officials said would be broadcast live on the island’s state-run TV.

The flag was also set to be raised at Havana’s diplomatic mission in Washington – upgraded to an embassy as diplomatic ties formally resumed after the stroke of midnight – for the first time since 1961.

More than 500 people will attend the Cubans’ festivities in Washington, including members of Congress. No invitations went out to hardline anti-Castro lawmakers.

A few hours later 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 U.S.

“This recognition somehow sends a message to dissidents and others around the world that the U.S. accepts the Cuban form of government today as a legitimate form of government”, he told CNN’s State of the Union.

In theory, the blockade against Cuba is not legal since the Caribbean nation is no longer considered an enemy of the United States, according to Global Research.

The development breaks just over 50 years of frosty relations between both countries and is, we hold, a step in the right direction.

Obama ordered a review of Cuba’s status on America’s state sponsors of terrorism list as part of a landmark policy shift in December when he and Castro announced they would work towards a broader normalisation of ties.

Cuba has been operating an interests section out of a 16th Street mansion in Washington, under the auspices of the Swiss Embassy. Before that, Mr Rodriguez will preside over a ceremony to mark the upgrading of the Cuban interests section to a full embassy.

After the 1959 revolution against the Batista regime that was led by Raul’s brother, Fidel, the new regime moved to seize U.S. companies and property. As for American diplomats in Cuba, state department officials say they will now have more freedom to travel throughout the island. “Greetings from the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba”.

“As Cubans, we welcome this and are waiting to see what will happen from this point onwards”.

Washington also wants to ensure the return of several American fugitives wanted in the United States. The two first met in April during the Summit of the Americas in Panama, where they worked on normalizing relations and reopening the embassies.

The USA will be represented at the event by Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson, who led USA negotiators in six months of talks leading to the July 1 announcement, and Jeffrey DeLaurentis, the chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana who will now become charge d’affaires.