The Cuban flag was raised over
Havana’s embassy in Washington on Monday for the first time in 54 years
as the United States and Cuba formally restored relations, opening a new
chapter of engagement between the former Cold War foes.
The Cuban national flag is seen raised over their new embassy in Washington, July 20, 2015. Photo: Reuters/Andrew Harnik
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez
presided over the reinauguration of the embassy, a milestone in the
diplomatic thaw that began with an announcement by U.S. President Barack
Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro on Dec. 17.
Underscoring differences that remain
between the United States and Communist-ruled Cuba, Rodriguez seized the
opportunity to urge Obama to use executive powers to do more to
dismantle the economic embargo, the main stumbling block to full
normalization of ties. For its part, the Obama administration pressed
Havana for improvement on human rights.
But even with continuing friction, the
reopening of embassies in each other's capitals provided the most
concrete symbols yet of what has been achieved after more than two years
of negotiations between governments that had long shunned each other.
In a further sign of a desire to move
past a half-century of enmity, Secretary of State John Kerry later
hosted Rodriguez, the first Cuban foreign minister to visit Washington
since the Cuban Revolution, for talks at the State Department.
While both men stressed the momentous occasion, they also sought to temper optimism fueled by the day's festivities.
"The historic events we are living today
will only make sense with the removal of the economic, commercial and
financial blockade, which causes so much deprivation and damage to our
people, the return of occupied territory in Guantanamo, and respect for
the sovereignty of Cuba," Rodriguez said at the reopening ceremony.
Obama has modestly eased some business
and travel restrictions but the broader 53-year-old embargo remains in
place. Only Congress can lift it, something majority Republicans are
unlikely to do anytime soon despite the Democratic president's appeal
for it to be rescinded.
With Rodriguez at his side later on
Monday, Kerry hailed a "new beginning" in relations but said there was
still much that divided the two governments and that the path to
complete normalization may be "long and complex."
White House spokesman Josh Earnest told
reporters the administration was "hopeful" that Cuba in coming years
would start to show respect for basic human rights.
Pomp in Washington, less fanfare in Havana
Earlier, a three-man military honor
guard marched onto the front lawn of the newly restored embassy in
Washington where the Cuban flag was hoisted while the Cuban national
anthem played.
There were competing chants from the
crowd outside the gates. "Cuba si, embargo no!" shouted one group. "Cuba
si, Fidel no," yelled a much smaller contingent of
counter-demonstrators.
Rodriguez then spoke inside the stately
building, which was visited by revolutionary leader Fidel Castro just
months after he seized power in Cuba in 1959.
In Havana, the U.S. Embassy was also
reopened for business but with much less fanfare. The Stars and Stripes
will not be hoisted there until a visit by Kerry on Aug. 14.
A crowd of about 100 Cubans, tourists
and Cuban-Americans gathered in front, many clutching small U.S. flags.
One Cuban held a banner that read, "Welcome USA."
In Washington, more than 500 people
attended the ceremony at the nearly century-old mansion. The U.S.
delegation was headed by Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson.
Before dawn on Monday, workers hung the
Cuban flag in the lobby of the State Department alongside the banners of
other countries with which the United States has diplomatic relations.
"We've waited a long time for this day,"
Senator Patrick Leahy, a staunch supporter of rapprochement, said as he
entered the grounds of the Cuban Embassy.
Hard-line anti-Castro lawmakers, such as
Senators Marco Rubio and Bob Menendez, who oppose Obama's outreach to
Cuba, were not invited.
Republican presidential candidate Jeb
Bush underscored his opposition on Twitter: "Obama's rush to restore
diplomatic relations with Cuba is wrong. This embassy will only serve to
further legitimize repressive regime."
The opening to Cuba reflects Obama's
presidential doctrine of negotiating with enemies, a concept that faces
an even tougher test with a nuclear deal reached with Iran last week.
But the counterpoint to restoration of
ties is a long list of lingering disputes, as well as Havana's desire to
keep a tight rein on Cuba's society and its state-run economy.
In addition to lifting the embargo,
Havana demands the return of the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay - an
issue that Kerry said Cuba had "strong feelings about" but which is not
currently under discussion. Other problems include the countries'
outstanding legal claims against each other and Cuba's sheltering of
American fugitives.
Source: Reuters