Obama Praises Progress in Ties with Cuba; Acknowledges 'Serious Differences'

by Mary Alice Salinas March 21, 2016

U.S. President Barack Obama Monday hailed the progress in relations between the United States and Cuba, while acknowledging that the two sides continue to have "very serious" differences on democracy and human rights.

After "frank and candid" talks in Havana on ways to advance normalization efforts, Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro held a joint news conference.

"This is a time of hope for Cuba," Obama told reporters.

'Decided by Cubans'

The U.S. leader said while he made it "clear" to Castro that the U.S. would continue to speak out on human rights, "Cuba's destiny will not be decided by the United States or any other nation. The future of Cuba will be decided by Cubans."

In a rare event, Castro agreed to take questions from journalists after the two leaders' remarks.

After being questioned about political prisoners, Castro reacted angrily. He demanded to be shown a list of such detainees. Cuba's position is that it holds no such prisoners.

"Give me a list of those political prisoners right now, and if the list exists, they will be released before the night is through," Castro said.

In Washington, D.C., Marion Smith, executive director of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, reacted to Castro's comments, saying, "We have that list, President Castro."

Last week, before Obama's trip to Havana, the group provided a list of jailed dissidents, called "The Forgotten 51," to major networks and reporters.

In his remarks, Castro welcomed the easing of trade and travel restrictions announced by Washington, but stressed the need for action to lift a 55-year trade embargo on the communist country. Castro also called on the U.S. to return land used for the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

The U.S trade embargo on Cuba has to be lifted by the Republican controlled Congress, where there is disagreement about Obama's policy shift from isolation to engagement with Cuba.

New approach irreversible

President Obama made the historic visit to Cuba early in his final year in office in a bid to make Washington's new approach toward Cuba essentially irreversible, the White House says.

To push it beyond Obama's final year in office, the president needs bipartisan support. Obama took along a delegation of nearly 40 lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats.

He said lawmakers are more likely to support it when they see progress under the new Cuba policy. He also said the pace of normalization will also depend on how much progress Cuba makes on human rights issues.

"The embargo is going to come," Obama predicted during the joint appearance. "When? I can't be entirely sure, but it will end."

Obama and Castro shook hands before going into talks at the Revolutionary Palace, one day after Obama became the first sitting U.S. president in nearly 90 years to arrive in the island nation.

Day in Havana

Earlier in the day, Obama attended a wreath laying ceremony at the monument of the Cuban independence hero Jose Marti at the Plaza of the Revolution.

"It is a great honor to pay tribute to Jose Marti, who gave his life for independence of his homeland. His passion for liberty, freedom and self-determination lives on in the Cuban people today, " Obama wrote in a guest book.

Throughout Havana on Sunday, people lined the streets as the U.S. president's motorcade rolled by following his arrival, with crowds waving, cheering, blowing kisses and chanting Obama's name.

'America wants to be your partner'

At a gathering of several hundred Cuban entrepreneurs and U.S. business people in Havana Monday, Obama said the United States wants to help Cuban entrepreneurs, and that the best way to do this is for the U.S. Congress to lift the trade embargo against Cuba "once and for all."

He told the gathering "America wants to be your partner."

The highlight of his trip though, according to the White House, will be an address the U.S. leader will deliver to the Cuban people on Tuesday. He is expected to speak about the difficult and complicated history between the two nations, the current course to normalize relations and his vision for future relations between the former Cold War enemies.

Schedule

Obama is to attend a state dinner late Monday at the Revolutionary Palace.

But the highlight of the trip, according to the White House, will be an address he will deliver to the Cuban people on Tuesday.

He is expected to speak about the difficult and complicated history between the two nations, the current course to normalize relations and his vision for future relations between the former Cold War enemies.

VOA's Victoria Macchi in Havana and Aru Pande at the White House contributed to this report.