US President Barack Obama began his speech referring to the “complicated” relationship between the US and Cuba for more than five decades and announced that this day would be historical for both countries.
In his words he confirmed that had telephone conversations yesterday with Cuban President Raul Castro to finalize the details on the exchange between American prisoner Allan Gross and the three Cubans imprisoned in the United States who are already in their respective nations.
Obama made official the decision to reestablish diplomatic relations with Cuba and open a US embassy in Cuba. “A new chapter in relations between our countries begins today,” the president said , adding that “we can not keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result.” He emphasized also the intentions of the United States to continue working in the greater empowerment of Cuban citizens.
The first black US president referred to the relationships they have with China, “a country also ruled by a communist party” and Viet Nam, with whom they were at war decades ago.
The President pointed out the benefits for both countries on cooperation in various fields such as health, education, science and sport. He also stressed the possibilities of working closely, Cubans and Americans, in the fight against Ebola in Africa.
” Decades of isolation of Cuba by the US have not achieved the lasting goal of promoting the emergence of a stable, prosperous and democratic Cuba, “Obama noted.”Pushing Cuba into the abyss does not benefit the United States or the Cuban people,” the president added.
He noted that people to people contact between Americans and Cubans could better convey the values of the country and contribute to citizen empowerment in the Island.
“We have learned from own experience that it is better to encourage and support reforms than imposing policies that become countries in failed states . Today, by taking these steps, we make a call on Cuba to unleash the potential of 11 million Cubans putting an end to unnecessary restrictions on their political, social and economic activities, “Obama stated.
“In that same spirit, we should not allow US sanctions to impose even greater burden to Cuban citizens, whom we are trying to help “he added.
In another part of the speech he noted the importance of “free flow of information” and the possibilities to open to Cuba access to Information and Communications Technology and the Internet. He added that he still believed that the Cuban people could participate even more in political decisions of the country.
“I do not expect that the decisions we are announcing today to transform the Cuban society from one day to the next, but I am convinced that we can help the Cubans themselves to enter by themselves the 21st century,” he stated.
Obama also addressed the leadership that from now the United States will resume in the hemisphere: “Today we are going to renew our leadership in the Americas. We will weigh the anchor of the past because it is necessary to achieve a better future for our national interests, for people living in the United States and the Cuban people, “the US president concluded.
Obama told the Cuban people: “America is extending you a helping hand.”
The speech was peppered with phrases in Spanish as “No es facil” ( It’s not easy), referring to the lives of Cubans. He also made an aside to the Cuban Americans and the city of Miami, highlighting their values and sent them a message with this phrase “We are all Americans”.
“We are making this change because it is the right thing” and ended with the view that from now on, a better future for the Cuban and American people could rise.
