THE SWEETEST NEWS BEFORE XMAS AND WORLD LEADERS HAIL RESTORATION OF US-CUBA TIES. ----------------------------------------- Read the entire story to understand fully the history behind the long standing banter between the two countries.. THE United States (U.S.) and Cuba yesterday laid out a series of “historic steps” aimed at improving relations between the two countries. The talks will pave the way for a return to full diplomatic relations, as well as an easing of the trade and travel restrictions imposed by the U.S. Cuba’s President Raul Castro had yesterday, announced the normalisation of relations between Cuba and the United States. In this regard, several international personalities spoke on the subject, among them Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon who considered it as ‘very positive.’ “It is very positive news. I thank presidents, Barack Obama and Raul Castro for taking this important step to normalise relations,” said Ban Ki-Moon in his New Year press conference. Pope Francis said: “I am deeply gratified by the historic decision of the governments of the United States and Cuba to establish diplomatic relations” and confirmed that the Holy See offered its “good offices” as a mediator between the parties. In the same way, the president of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez, sent a “huge greetings and deep respect for the dignity of the Cuban people that knew to stay with dignity during this time.” The president of El Salvador, Salvador Sanchez Ceren said: “The agreement reached between Cuba and the United States is a sign of peace, progress and development for our peoples.” Venezuela’s ambassador to Cuba stated: “U.S. recognises failure of their policies and determines reviewing their positions to take a right course.” The president of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, celebrated the courage and audacity of the United States and the Cuban government to create a future of peace in the Americas. The Foreign Minister of Germany, Frank Walter Steinmeier said: “I respect the courage of President Obama to break with a policy that caused decades of stagnation and lack of prospects for the peoples concerned.” The Foreign Ministry spokesman of Vietnam, Pham Thu Hang said that normalisation of relations between Cuba and the U.S. will contribute significantly to the maintenance of peace, stability and development of cooperation in America and the world. For his part, President of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino), Elias Castillo, said the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States “was a prevailing vacuum in the region and it was time for him to materialize.” *A timeline on U.S.-Cuba relations July 1953: Fidel Castro leads a revolutionary campaign against the regime of Cuban President Fulgencio Batista. January 1959: Castro and Che Guevara enter Havana after a successful final offensive. Batista flees, and Castro becomes prime minister, ruling by decree. October 1960: Castro’s reforms sees hundreds of U.S. businesses in Cuba nationalised and their owners not compensated. In December, U.S. breaks off diplomatic relations and imposes trade embargo. April 1961: Cuban exiles launch the Bay of Pigs invasion with U.S. backing. October 1962: A 13-day confrontation known as the Cuban Missile Crisis begins when Castro allows the Union of Soviet Socialists Republic SSR to deploy nuclear missiles on the island. Generally regarded as the closest the world has come to nuclear war. April 1980: A sharp downturn in the Cuban economy and Castro temporarily lifting restrictions sees around 125,000 people, many of them released convicts, flee to the U.S. February 1996: Cuba shoots down two U.S. aircraft operated by Miami-based Cuban exiles. June 2001: The case of the “Cuban Five” begins, as five spies in Miami are convicted of providing intelligence to the Havana government. Nov 2001: U.S. sells $30 million of food to the Cuban government to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Michelle, which killed 22 people, the first food export between the countries in more than 40 years. Oct 2003: U.S. President George W. Bush announces fresh anti-communist measures, including tightening the travel embargo and creating a new government body, the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba. Feb 2008: Raul Castro officially takes over as president. Washington responds by saying its trade embargo will remain in force unless free and fair elections are held. Dec 2008: A poll by Florida International University suggests for the first time that a majority of Cuban-Americans living in Miami want an end to the embargo. April 2009: President Obama lifts restrictions on family travel to Cuba. Nov 2010: American Ballet Theatre performs in Cuba for the first time in 50 years. Sep 2012: Cuba hints at its willingness to do a deal with Washington on the Gross case. December 2013: President Obama and Raul Castro shake hands at the memorial service for Nelson Mandela. Castro says in English: “Mr. President, I am Castro.”
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 19:48:32 +0000
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