(Newswire.net — December 18, 2014) Washington, DC. — Since John F. Kennedy’s administration’s attempt to stop the spread of Communism by proposing sanctions to Cuba in 1960’s, the relations between two neighboring states have been far from friendly, however, that is going to change.
Seeking to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba, US President Obama announced Wednesday that his administration plans to lift the embargo and open an embassy in Havana. In addition, US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro agreed to authorize sales and exports between the two nations and make changes to the current travel laws that for decades have restricted traffic between the two countries.
“Today, the United States of America is changing its relationship with the people of Cuba,” Obama said unveiling what he called “the most significant changes in our policy in more than 50 years.”
“We will end an outdated approach that for decades has failed to advance our interest,” he said.
“This is fundamentally about freedom and openness, and also expresses my belief in the power of people-to-people engagement,” Obama said of the policy change, adding that he intends such “contact will ultimately do more to empower the Cuban people.”
Responding to President Obama’s administration’s reversal towards Cuba, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed hope that this would be followed by “the complete removal of the American trade embargo in place against the island since 1961.”
“The U.S. president admitted that many years of attempting to isolate Cuba have not produced a result,” the ministry said. “One is left to hope that Washington will quickly realize that similar sanctions pressure on other countries has no prospects.”
The White house stated the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, will soon begin discussions with Cuban representatives, as officials from Havana will be welcomed to attend the annual Summit of Americas in April 2015.
The announcement on Wednesday occurred only hours after it was revealed that Alan Gross, an American citizen imprisoned in Cuba for the last five years, had been released on humanitarian grounds, along with a US intelligence official who has similarly been detained for 20 years. On its part, the US has released three individuals from the so-called “Cuban Five” who had until now been imprisoned.