President Obama announced today the reestablishment of full diplomatic relations with Cuba, which had been severed since 1961.
The United States will open an embassy in Havana, and increase travel, commerce and the flow of information to and from Cuba, said President Obama in a television speech. The historic shift in foreign policy follows the release of American Alan Gross from a Cuban prison.
“Over many months, my administration has held discussions with the Cuban government about Alan’s case, and other aspects of our relationship,” Obama said. “His Holiness Pope Francis issued a personal appeal to me, and to Cuba’s President Raul Castro, urging us to resolve Alan’s case, and to address Cuba’s interest in the release of three Cuban agents who have been jailed in the United States for over 15 years.
“Alan was released by the Cuban government on humanitarian grounds. Separately, in exchange for the three Cuban agents, Cuba today released one of the most important intelligence agents that the United States has ever had in Cuba, and who has been imprisoned for nearly two decades.”
FIU News spoke to the director of FIU’s Cuban Research Institute, Jorge Duany, about the implications of this major policy shift.
This is all leading towards a new world order. Not good.
Unfortunately, the money spent in Cuba is going to stay in the hands of the communist government. Why are we helping a communist organization???
So if for 50+ years you have applied a policy that doesn’t work and never produced results…shouldn’t you try a different approach? For your information every time there is more exchange in Cuba yes the majority of the money ends up in the hands of the Castro’s but it also benefits the people to some degree. So I am for this change.FYI:I was born and raised in Cuba so I know what I’m talking about…you are helping the Cuban people at least a bit and believe me they can use the help . The fact is the government is a thief and that is not going to change . My advice spend more on private little businesses and help the people more if you ever visit…
So, you are supporting communism.
fyi
Thanks for the report. Very objective and I hope that the summit in Panama brings a new era to Latin America.
Mr. Duany semms to favor a strengthening of the Castro tirany…..cannot undersatand that…..AR
“Do not give Cuba credit on any transaction”. If we do, we won’t get that money back. Only cash payment transactions shall be negotiated.
Are we forgetting what happened in 1961? You, I and millions of Americans would not be around had it been the Castro brothers doing the negotiations during the Cuban missile crisis: It appears we still have a lot to learn from history.
Is 50 years of tyranny, human right abuse, money laundering and terrorist haven (to mention only a few of the violations) not enough proof of which who we are bargaining with? These are STILL the same brothers and the same regime – there has been no change! This is the reason why so many of us have come to this country and risked our lives in search of freedom.
Daniel, I am also Cuban, born and raised there. If you want to really change Cuba, you need to realize that there cannot be change by helping its regime stay in power. Real change only comes from within. Help your family in the captive island, but do NOT help with the survival of the regime that is keeping our families in captivity.
Let us not kid ourselves or allow our hopes to be mislead: The real reasons for MOST wishing to lift the embargo is the opportunity to make money regardless of the human factor – even if it means collaborating with a regime whose only purpose is to survive and not change. Most of these people do not care about those in Cuba; it is just a potential tourist destination – the land that stood still – they just wish to ignore why.
Think about your advice since it sounds that your REALLY know where the money is going to.
Be patient, real change will come to Cuba, but it won’t take place as long as those in power remain there.