The United States and Cuba will start talks on normalizing full diplomatic relations, marking the most significant shift in U.S. policy toward the communist island in decades, American officials said Wednesday.
The announcement comes amid a series of new confidence-building measures between the longtime foes, including the release of American Alan Gross and the freeing of three Cubans jailed in the U.S.
President Barack Obama was to announce the policy changes from the White House at noon ET. CBCNews.ca will carry his remarks live.
Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican and possible 2016 presidential contender, said the U.S. and Cuba were moving toward normalized banking and trade ties. He also said the U.S. was poised to open an embassy in Havana in the coming months.
"This is going to do absolutely nothing to further human rights and democracy in Cuba," Rubio said in an interview. "But it potentially goes a long way in providing the economic lift that the Castro regime needs to become permanent fixtures in Cuba for generations to come."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-s-and-cuba-seek-to-normalize-relations-in-historic-shift-1.2876088
WHO IS ALAN P. GROSS?
Alan P. Gross, 65, was detained Dec. 3, 2009.
He has two children and worked as a social worker in the Washington suburbs.
Mr. Gross was in Cuba as a government contractor for the United States Agency for International Development delivering communications equipment to religious groups.
Cuba sentenced Mr. Gross to 15 years for participating in a plot to "destroy the revolution."
His wife, Judy, appealed to the Cuban government to release her husband, who is in poor health.
walkinginonit posted:Latest development in the Cuban Thermidor
i always keep my cubans in a thermidor to maintain their stability and integrity
postposting posted:a government contractor for the United States Agency for International Development delivering communications equipment to religious groups.
the faily planet scoops the competition yet again
le_nelson_mandela_face posted:i'd like to go to cuba but they put pork in fucken everything. they should open some resorts that cater to the amerikkkan liberal
perhaps tel aviv next summer, comrade
Fuentes teaches every new crop of troopers about Shakur, whom he calls Chesimard.
The New Jersey State Police have had a full-time detective assigned to her case since her escape.
“It is personal to us,” Fuentes said. “We’ve been pressing for an increase in the reward and to have her placed on the terrorists list. She continues every day to flaunt her freedom in the face of this horrific crime. It’s an open wound for us.”
"We view any changes in relations with Cuba as an opportunity to bring her back to the United States to finish her sentence for the murder of a New Jersey State Trooper in 1973," State Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes said in a statement.
lmao. 40 years of being paid to say "yep, still in cuba i guess." these pigs mad
Since my election as President of the State Council and Council of Ministers I have reiterated on many occasions our willingness to hold a respectful dialogue with the United States on the basis of sovereign equality, in order to deal reciprocally with a wide variety of topics without detriment to the national Independence and self-determination of our people.
This stance was conveyed to the U.S. Government both publicly and privately by Comrade Fidel on several occasions during our long-standing struggle, stating the willingness to discuss and solve our differences without renouncing any of our principles.
The heroic Cuban people, in the wake of serious dangers, aggressions, adversities and sacrifices, has proven to be faithful and will continue to be faithful to our ideals of independence and social justice. Strongly united throughout these 56 years of Revolution, we have kept our unswerving loyalty to those who died in defense of our principles since the beginning of our independence wars in 1868.
Today, despite the difficulties, we have embarked on the task of updating our economic model in order to build a prosperous and sustainable Socialism.
As a result of a dialogue at the highest level, which included a phone conversation I had yesterday with President Obama, we have been able to make headway in the solution of some topics of mutual interest for both nations.
As Fidel promised on June 2001, when he said: “They shall return!” Gerardo, Ramon, and Antonio have arrived today to our homeland.
The enormous joy of their families and of all our people, who have relentlessly fought for this goal, is shared by hundreds of solidarity committees and groups, governments, parliaments, organizations, institutions, and personalities, who for the last sixteen years have made tireless efforts demanding their release. We convey our deepest gratitude and commitment to all of them.
President Obama’s decision deserves the respect and acknowledgment of our people.
I wish to thank and acknowledge the support of the Vatican, most particularly the support of Pope Francisco in the efforts for improving relations between Cuba and the United States. I also want to thank the Government of Canada for facilitating the high-level dialogue between the two countries.
In turn, we have decided to release and send back to the United States a spy of Cuban origin who was working for that nation.
On the other hand, and for humanitarian reasons, today we have also sent the American citizen Alan Gross back to his country.
Unilaterally, as has always been our practice, and in strict compliance with the provisions of our legal system, the concerned prisoners have received legal benefits, including the release of those persons that the Government of the United States had conveyed their interest in.
We have also agreed to renew diplomatic relations.
This in no way means that the heart of the matter has been solved. The economic, commercial, and financial blockade, which causes enormous human and economic damages to our country, must cease.
Though the blockade has been codified into law, the President of the United States has the executive authority to modify its implementation.
We propose to the Government of the United States the adoption of mutual steps to improve the bilateral atmosphere and advance towards normalization of relations between our two countries, based on the principles of International Law and the United Nations Charter.
Cuba reiterates its willingness to cooperate in multilateral bodies, such as the United Nations.
While acknowledging our profound differences, particularly on issues related to national sovereignty, democracy, human rights and foreign policy, I reaffirm our willingness to dialogue on all these issues.
I call upon the Government of the United States to remove the obstacles hindering or restricting ties between peoples, families, and citizens of both countries, particularly restrictions on travelling, direct post services, and telecommunications.
The progress made in our exchanges proves that it is possible to find solutions to many problems.
As we have reiterated, we must learn the art of coexisting with our differences in a civilized manner.
We will continue talking about these important issues at a later date
Thank you.
Raúl Cobain Castro Ruz
gyrofry posted:Today, despite the difficulties, we have embarked on the task of updating our economic model in order to build a prosperous and sustainable Socialism.
ilmdge posted:Cuba is open for business.
Red_Canadian posted:Couldn't a temporary influx of foreign capital, before being seized by the state, grow the Cuban economy without lasting damage to the road to Communism?
i think cuba is going to go full tilt reforms soon too. mostly because they are doing the sorts of things that you would have to do to prepare for it. actually this might sound odd but i think they have a much grander plan worked out than they've told people yet (cuba's leadership). because they are building this huge port near havana which is sort of like a special economic zone. they got the money for it from brazil (who has taken a big role in latin american development financing lately). anyway all the economic observers are like "uhh this port is too big, it will never be at capacity". well that just makes me wonder if they think the embargo will be gone within ten years or so.
gyrofry posted:this has a lot more to do with russia than people are talking about
catchphrase
Petrol posted:Red_Canadian posted:Couldn't a temporary influx of foreign capital, before being seized by the state, grow the Cuban economy without lasting damage to the road to Communism?
dengism ftw?
gyrofry posted:this has a lot more to do with russia than people are talking about
discipline posted:Red_Canadian posted:There's an idealistic side of me that hopes that the Cuban population has been steeped in communism for so long that even capitalism will not be able to establish itself as all powerful. I mean, as soon as conditions got bad enough for enough of them, wouldn't they immediately strike or something? It's not the government's going to take the side of the foreign corporation straight away. Couldn't a temporary influx of foreign capital, before being seized by the state, grow the Cuban economy without lasting damage to the road to Communism?
Sure, but you should understand that you're not the first person to think this way. There are whole divisions of investment firms and banks that assess this sort of risk. And most of the time what happens is they pressure the government to become more friendly to investment and friendly means please promise us you'll not seize our capital that we so kindly invest there. Sometimes they take collateral, sometimes they sign trade agreements, whatever. But usually when a country like Cuba would court US FDI they would have to fork over some of their own capital to do it or else make the environment okay, or else take some really shitty deal for labor to do it.
gyrofry posted:this has a lot more to do with russia than people are talking about
Moscow, while recognizing this is "just a calculated change in tactics," is interpreting the deal as a hopeful sign that "sanctions do not work."
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/20/world/europe/russian-emissary-to-meet-with-cuba-leaders.html?_r=0