TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United States and Cuba have taken steps to end the five decades of mutual enmity on Wednesday by re-establishing diplomatic relations between the two nations— a breakthrough that might lead to the lifting of the US trade embargo on Cuba.
President Barack Obama said that Washington was prepared for a new phase of US-Cuba relations, and announced that his administration was planning to re-establish a US Embassy in Havana, which had been shuttered since 1961.
"We are all Americans," announced Obama in Spanish—a move that has been described by the White House as an affirmation of the US leadership in the Western Hemisphere.
Cuban President Raul Castro, who spoke almost at the same time in Havana, said that the US, which he described as a former enemy, had agreed to re-establish ties after half a century of mutual distrust.
"President Obama's decision is worthy of our acknowledgement and respect from our people," said Castro, who also went on to say that the ongoing trade embargo must end soon.
In Washington, Obama admits that the US-imposed trade embargo had failed, and that he would ask the Congress to lift the ban. Obama also said that he would utilize his presidential authorities to ensure progress in the US-Cuba relations.
"We are moving away from our obsolete approach as it has failed to advance our national interests, and we will begin to normalize relations between both states," said Obama. "By committing to these changes, we plan to create more opportunities for both Cubans and Americans, which mark a chapter in intra-American relations."
Obama also said that the possibility of a US presidential visit to Cuba remained wide open. "I don't have any plans in the short run, but we'll have to wait for future developments," said Obama in an interview with ABC, as quoted by AFP.
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