President Obama lands in Havana with his family

Barack Obama has now become the first US President in 88 years to visit Cuba after Air Force One touched down in the Jose Marti International Airport, Havana. He was greeted by foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez but not president Raul Castro. This visit is the first by a sitting president since Calvin Coolidge arrived on a battleship in 1928. The absence of Raul Castro at the airport has been criticized by Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 21 March 2016.

Raul Castro and Barack Obama had announced in December 2014 that they would re-open diplomatic relations and put an end to an estrangement that began when the Cuban revolution had ousted a pro-American government in 1959. Commercial flights have already resumed and respective embassies have reopened, but the economic embargo of Cuba continues to remain following Republicans in the US blocking its rescission.
The US President is accompanied by daughters Malia and Sasha, and Michelle, the first lady and her mother. On arrival in Havana, the President has termed his visit an "historic opportunity to engage with the Cuban people". In his itinerary of the three-day-trip are private meetings with dissidents, addressing Cubans live on state TV and attend an exhibition baseball game.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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US and Cuba to restore commercial flights after 50-years

The United States and Cuba have finally concluded a deal to restore commercial flights for the first time in more than five decades. There would be nearly 110 daily flights from the US to different cities across Cuba - 20 of these would be regular daily flights to Havana by next autumn.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 16 February 2016.

At present US airlines operate 10 to 15 charter flights into the Cuban capital per day. Therefore, this deal marks one of the more significant developments between the former Cold War foes. It has happened after presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro announced a normalizing of relations in December 2014.
The conclusion of the deal represents a critically important milestone in the US effort to engage with Cuba because this travel agreement opens up the door for US airlines to start bidding on the new routes. American Airlines, which has operated charter flights into Cuba since 1991, has indicated that it would bid on commercial routes from Miami and other US hubs.
Other airlines that have shown an interest are United, Southwest, Delta, JetBlue and Spirit - they also are keen to secure daily routes into Cuba.
Incidentally, in spite of the new agreement, tourism to Cuba remains barred by US law. However, the number of legal reasons for US travelers to go to Cuba have been widely extended and, in fact, are loosely enforced.



Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Cuba Embassy reopens in Washington after 54-years

#Cuba #Havana #JohnKerry #barackobama #RaulCastro Cuba and the US have officially re-established their respective embassies in Washington and Havana respectively at 12.01am on Monday – while the Cuban flag was hung in the lobby of the State Department, the American flag will be raised over the US embassy in Havana during a ceremony that will be attended by John Kerry, US Secretary of State in August.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 20 July 2015.

John Kerry has hailed this as a "new beginning" after a ceremony marked the reopening of the Cuban embassy in Washington. In this symbolic event, the Cuban flag was raised in the US capital for the first time in 54 years.
This is seen as the latest milestone as the two former Cold War foes continue to rebuild the broken diplomatic ties. Of course, one issue which remains unresolved is the US military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba – this was highlighted by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez. In his words, the historic events will make sense with the removal of the economic, commercial and financial blockade because that resulted in deprivation and damage to the people of Cuba. He also mentioned the return of occupied territory in Guantanamo, and respect for the sovereignty of Cuba.
As far as history goes, relations between the US and Cuba had started to deteriorate after the 1959 Cuban Revolution overthrew the Batista government. However, last December US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro made the breakthrough announcement that the two governments would begin working on normalizing relations – that has now taken shape.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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Cuba could soon become a favored tourist destination for Americans

#Havana #Cuba #RaulCastro #BarackObama #tourists With the thaw in relationship between the old Cold War foes US and Cuba, progress is visible following a second round of discussions to end a half-century diplomatic freeze as reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 1 March 2015.
President Barack Obama and his counterpart Raul Castro have promised to restore embassies in each other’s capitals. Some hurdles still remain, including the one of Cuba’s place on the US blacklist of state sponsor of terrorism.
Anyway, the rural communities of Cuba could real benefits from an influx of American tourists because, the fresh relations between the two governments could provide a boost to allow the isolated communities to look for new economic opportunities once the US fully lifts its ban on trade and travel. Havana, the capital of Cuba, was seen as a party destination for Americans years ago due to its close proximity to Florida.
It is in the villages where visitors can experience a side of the Caribbean island that few holidaymakers bother to see. In the villages, the number of cars is less, the farm workers harvest tomatoes by hand, and the farmers sell their produce and meat at roadside stands. Goods are transported by horse and buggy or tractor.
Of course, life in 'the real Cuba' and talks between US and Cuban officials continue with an eye to restore full diplomatic relations and, ultimately, move towards opening trade.