US Marines who lowered embassy flag in 1961 back in Havana

The US reopened its embassy in Cuba yesterday for the first time in 54 years in a step towards mending relations between the two countries.

“Like many other governments in and outside this hemisphere, we will continue to urge the Cuban government to fulfill its obligations under the UN and Inter-American human rights covenants, obligations shared by the United States and every other country in the Americas”, he said.

The United States’ chief diplomat in Havana is addressing the crowd at a flag-raising ceremony for the newly rechristened embassy.

Thousands of Cubans gathered outside of the embassy, some holding American and Cuban flags together as they celebrated the historic occasion.

After Kerry finished speaking at the ceremony, Larry Morris, Jim Tracey and Mike East – the three now-retired Marines who lowered the U.S. flag to close the embassy in January 1961 – saluted and handed a folded flag to three Marine guards in crisp uniforms.

Cuba wants the US to end its economic embargo of the island, return the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay in eastern Cuba and halt radio and television signals beamed into Cuba. He said the United States is committed to pursuing “tough” issues, including human rights, with the Cuban government, and that further progress will be necessary for normalization of relations to proceed. He has also been criticised for failing to invite Cuban dissidents to the flag-raising ceremony.

“There will be hiccups along the way but it’s a start”, he told reporters travelling with him on the whirlwind one-day trip.

“Currently Cuba allows U.S. products in agriculture and in humanitarian aid, so those opportunities now exist for local businesses but not anything beyond that”, said Stimpson.

“We have many things we need to work on together, ranging from law enforcement, maritime security, education, health, telecommunications, “Kerry said”. In May, the U.S. dropped Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism”, NBC News reports. He said instead that “Cuba’s future is for Cubans to shape”.

He’s the first Secretary of State to visit Cuba since 1945.

The events come eight months after President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro disclosed plans to restore ties.

Kerry also met with Cuban civil society leaders, including a selection of political dissidents.

The live broadcast of Kerry’s critical remarks about Cuban democracy recalls the day in May 2002 when Cuban state media gave unprecedented live coverage to a speech by visiting former President Jimmy Carter.

A number of Democratic and Republican lawmakers are working together to push for legislation that would ease parts of the trade embargo, and there are powerful business and agricultural interests behind opening up relations with Cuba.