US-Cuba Relations

WASHINGTON, USA -- The United States and Cuba formally agreed on Wednesday to restore diplomatic relations on July 20, setting up a trip to Havana by John Kerry, who would become the first US secretary of state to visit the country in 70 years.

Sealed by an exchange of letters between US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro, the deal fulfills a pledge the two countries made six months ago.

The letters set a date of July 20 for the re-establishment of relations, and embassies could be opened at that time or later.

Kerry, speaking from Vienna, said he would visit Havana to raise the US flag outside the future US embassy, currently known as an interests section.

"The progress that we mark today is yet another demonstration that we don’t have to be imprisoned by the past," Obama said from the White House Rose Garden. "When something isn’t working, we can -- and will -- change."

Obama noted that ties were severed in the year he was born, 1961.

Isolating Cuba had been a foreign policy objective under ten US presidents and Obama declared it had failed to promote democracy or improve the lives of Cubans living in a one-party state.

"It hasn’t worked for 50 years. It shuts America out of Cuba’s future, and it only makes life worse for the Cuban people," Obama said, while noting stark differences between the two governments would remain.

Cuba's Communist government controls the media and represses political opponents, a policy it has justified based on US attempts to destabilize the government and Washington's open support of dissidents.

Raul Castro, 84, Fidel Castro's younger brother and Cuban president since 2008, welcomed diplomatic ties that he said should reinforce the principles of sovereign equality and non-interference in his country.

"Cuba is encouraged by the reciprocal intention to develop respectful and cooperative relations between our two peoples and governments," Castro wrote in his letter to Obama.

Obama said the agreement would increase US contact with ordinary Cubans, permit a larger staff of diplomats and grant them more freedom of movement across the island.

Obama Does It

Though his opposing political party will challenge him, President Obama has held true to his word of opening relations with the island nation of Cuba. Which ever side one is on socially or politically one thing has been certain, the embargo has done nothing but caused the citizens of Cuba to suffer. It has done nothing to drive out the Castro regime. Therefore I support this new initiative. Obama has been all about trying something different when its obvious the "good old boy" method (the current methods) have not succeeded.

"I was very insistent with him that we would continue to promote democracy and human rights and speak out forcefully on behalf of the freedom of the people of Cuba," Obama told ABC's World News Tonight in an interview conducted Wednesday.

Obama -- who announced Wednesday that the United States would seek to normalize relations with Cuba after more than 50 years of tensions -- said he and Castro delivered "lengthy" opening statements before having a dialogue during their Tuesday phone call.

"I think there's the possibility, by engaging, by making sure that the American people are able to travel to Cuba, that the Cuban people are able to see, firsthand, what American values are," Obama said. "That is going to spur change among the people of Cuba. And that's our main objective here."

A NEW DAY

"Change has come to America" was the theme of his acceptance speech. As Barack Obama prepares to take office as the next president of the United States people around the world are sharing in the hope that he expresses for our country. Many continue to view the US as the land of opportunity but began to question whether we could ever extend opportunities to all people. The resounding answer, as evident by this election, is YES WE CAN.