President of the United States and the Cuban leader at one table – this scenario a few months ago, they were unable to conceive even the most optimistic. With the meeting Barack Obama and Raul Castro VII Summit of the Americas in Panama has passed into history.
In 1956. Dwight Eisenhower met with Fulgencio Batista, in 1959. Then US Vice President Richard Nixon – the triumphant after the victory of the revolution Fidel Castro. Then there was the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Cuban missile crisis and frozen for decades conflict. During the rule of the Castro brothers host the White House changed ten once, but the policy towards Havana remained the same.
Contacts in times of post-revolutionary Cuba was limited to a short and rather forced greetings between Fidel Castro and Bill Clinton at the UN summit in New York in 2000.
As a harbinger of return in the relations between the two countries can, however, be regarded as a handshake, which exchanged Barack Obama and Raul Castro at the funeral of Nelson Mandela in December 2013. Now it is known that already in secret negotiations were under way on frostbite relations between Cuba and the United States.
End isolation
Once Raul Castro announced in late December that he was going to Summit of the Americas, it was known that a relatively boring usually meeting of Heads of State belonging to the Organization of American States (OAS), the time will be watched, not only in the countries of the region.
Your Latin for many years demanded that Havana was present at the Heights of the Americas, but Washington strongly opposed to the idea. Before the previous peak in the Colombian Cartagena de Indias some countries in the region threatened to boycott the meeting, unless it appears on Raul Castro. Save the situation had to host – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos – who went to Havana and asked Raul Castro to not to come to the top.
President of Cuba …
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announced Dec. 17 decision to turn in relations between the United States and Cuba made the US ended the stubborn policy of isolating Cuba in the international arena. Handshakes and shared photos on top in Panama is an important symbolic gestures showing that since these changes, there is no turning back.
Atmosphere “cordial but formal”
The preparation for the meeting Raul Castro and Barack Obama were very careful.
preceded by a telephone conversation between the leaders and the head of the American diplomatic negotiations John Kerry and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodriguez. The last official meeting at this level – between John Foster Dulles and Gonzalo Guell – took place in 1958.
Awaited meeting Barack Obama and Raul Castro took place on the second day of the summit, on Saturday. It lasted about an hour. As noted by Reuters, the atmosphere seemed cordial, but quite formal.
– This is without a doubt the historic meeting. We are now ready to move forward – said the end of the US president. – We are ready to talk on any subject. We have to be patient, very patient – turn Castro said.
surprising confession Raul
The President of Cuba was much more effusive in his speech at the summit forum. A surprising and spontaneous digressions Barack Obama called “honest man”. He admitted that he was acquainted with the biography of the American president and expressed his admiration for him. – I think his behavior affected his humble origins – he said. The words will not find in the official version posted on the government of information services.
Although the majority of the Cuban president’s speech consisted of pointing out to the United States “imperialist aggression” and burdening Washington blame for all the harm I’ve ever met in Latin America Castro also stressed that Obama is not responsible for the dark past.
– Ten presidents owes us a debt to pay, but not President Obama – he said.
To balance – a meeting with dissidents
The differences between Washington and Havana, which probably will not be quickly overcome, is undoubtedly attitude to human rights. In a survey of the island by the US research firm, almost half of the respondents admitted that the main problem is the lack of freedom. 52 per cent. Cubans interviewed felt that the country should work more political parties. Only 19 per cent. said they freely express their views in public. 75 per cent. betrayed, however, that is careful in such situations.
In Panama, before the start of the summit, there was an unpleasant incident during which supporters of the Castro brothers clashed with dissidents. Independent media and opposition accuse the regime’s supporters acted on the initiative of the authorities.
On Friday, Obama attended a summit organized on the margins of civil society. Although the president’s speech came the name of any country, it’s hard not to read the words that “strong countries are not afraid to voice critical of its citizens” as directed, inter alia, toward the Cuban authorities.
– The leaders, who do not have nothing to fear, they understand that their criticism only strengthens and makes more efficient (…) Civil society is our conscience. It is a catalyst for change. That is why the powerful nations are not afraid to active citizens – said Obama.
After the session ended forum president participated in a closed meeting of the 15 activists from around the region, including the two Cuban dissidents.
Turning Point
Barack Obama came to Panama with his hand in the direction of not only Cuba, but also the whole of Latin America. – Gone are the days when our policy towards this part of the world assumed the possibility of interference with impunity – said on Friday. During Saturday’s speech at the forum leaders, in turn, stressed that the unfreezing of relations with Havana to help the people of Cuba, but also to improve cooperation between the Member States and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
– This change in the policy of the United States is a turning point for the entire region – he pointed out.
Such a declaration was more, and anti-American rhetoric in the speech of President Evo Morales of Bolivia and Argentina because of the ruling Kirchner Cristina Fernandez de resounded this time much less than usual.
Author: kg MTOM / Source: tvn24.pl, elpais.com, elnuevoherald.com, Reuters
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