Obama, Castro confirm‎ ‘long way to go' before normalization of ties

U.S. President Barack Obama, who was on the second day of his historic tour to Cuba, met with Cuban President Raul Castro at the Revolution Palace in Havana, and they agreed that their countries will continue restoring bilateral ties that were severed in 1961. However, the two leaders showed completely different stances on the lifting of sanctions against Cuba and democratization of the Caribbean nation, which are central issues, which confirmed the reality that they have a long way to go before complete normalization of diplomatic ties between their nations.

“ I want to thank you for the courtesy and the spirit of openness that you’ve shown during our talks,” President Obama said in a joint press conference after their summit talks. “We continue, as President Castro indicated, to have some very serious differences, including on democracy and human rights. And President Castro and I have had very frank and candid conversations on these subjects...And just as I continue to call on Congress to lift the trade embargo, I discussed with President Castro the steps we urge Cuba to take to show that it’s ready to do more business, which includes allowing more joint ventures and allowing foreign companies to hire Cubans directly.”

President Castro said, “I support President Obama’s withdrawal of blockade policy against Cuba. However, lifting of sanctions and the return of the Guantanamo Naval Base to Cuba remain stumbling blocks to the normalization to the bilateral ties.” In a question and answer session with reporters, Castro said, “What political prisoners? Give a name or names. If you give me a list of political prisoners, and if we have those political prisoners, they will be released before tonight ends. I am opposed to (U.S.’) political manipulation concerning human rights.”

　

CNN said the summit between the two leaders symbolically demonstrates that it will still take some time for Cuba, the only reclusive country in the Americas, to return to the international community.

President Obama gave his first public speech to Cubans at the Havana Grand Theater on Monday, where he stressed that in order to ensure Cuba’s practical reform and opening, more political freedom should be assured.

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