Cuba casts aside rancor to welcome Obama on historic visit
President Barack Obama arrives in Cuba on Sunday for a 48-hour visit, making history by venturing into what was once enemy territory and sparking enthusiasm among Cubans who have seen their Communist government vilify 10 previous U.S. leaders.
HAVANA: President Barack Obama arrives in Cuba on Sunday for
a 48-hour visit, making history by venturing into what was once enemy
territory and sparking enthusiasm among Cubans who have seen their
Communist government vilify 10 previous U.S. leaders.
The visit, the first by a U.S. president in 88 years, would
have been unthinkable until Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro agreed
in December 2014 to end an estrangement that began when the Cuban
revolution overthrew a pro-American government in 1959.
Plainclothes police have blanketed the capital with security
while public works crews have busily laid down asphalt in a city where
drivers joke they must navigate "potholes with streets."
Welcome signs with images of Obama alongside Castro popped
up in colonial Old Havana, where Obama will tour on Sunday afternoon
shortly after landing.
Since rapprochement the two sides have restored diplomatic
ties, signed commercial deals on telecommunications and scheduled
airline service, and expanded cooperation on law enforcement and
environmental protection.
"Obama has been brave for agreeing to relations with Cuba," said school teacher Elena Gonzalez, 43.Major differences remain, notably the 54-year-old economic embargo of Cuba. Obama has asked Congress to rescind it but has been blocked by the Republican leadership. Instead, Obama has used executive authority to loosen trade and travel restrictions.
Cuba also complains about the continued occupation of the
naval base at Guantanamo Bay, which Obama has said is not up for
discussion, and U.S. support for dissidents and anti-communist radio and
TV programs beamed into Cuba.
"There are many years of mistrust and we are not going to change our
system, our values," said Ileana Valdes, 55, a nurse. "Although one must
highlight that there are no longer invasions."
The Americans in turn criticise one-party rule and
repression of political opponents. Cuban police briefly detained more
than 200 activists in the days before the visit, dissidents said.
Little progress on such issues is expected when Obama and Castro meet on Monday or over state dinner that night.
Instead, the highlights are likely to be Obama's speech on
live Cuban television on Tuesday, when he will also meet dissidents and
attend a baseball game between the Cuban national team and the Tampa Bay
Rays.
"Times change and it's great that we have relations with the
United States, even though they still impose the embargo," said Barbaro
Echevarria, 28, a medical student. "But we can't blame all our problems
on the U.S. embargo."
(Reporting by Nelson Acosta; Editing by Daniel Trotta and Bernard Orr)
- Reuters
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