Page 2 - Aruba Today
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UP FRONTTuesday 22 March 2016
Obama, Castro lay bare tensions
on embargo, human rights
Associated Press Castro surprised the world understand whether inqui-
with an announcement to ries were directed to him.
JULIE PACE end their Cold War-era dip- But when an American
lomatic freeze. reporter asked about po-
Associated Press Obama, standing in Ha- litical prisoners in Cuba, he
vana’s Palace of the Revo- pushed back aggressively,
MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN lution on the second day saying if the journalist could
of his historic visit to Cuba, offer names of anyone im-
HAVANA (AP) — Laying repeatedly pushed Castro properly imprisoned, “they
to take steps to address his will be released before to-
bare a half-century of ten- country’s human rights re- night ends.”
cord. “What political prison-
sions, President Barack “We continue, as Presi- ers? Give me a name or
dent Castro indicated, to names,” Castro said.
Obama and Cuban Presi- have some very serious Cuba has been criticized
differences, including on for briefly detaining dem-
dent Raul Castro prodded democracy and human onstrators thousands of
rights,” said Obama, who times a year but has dras-
each other Monday over planned to meet with Cu- tically reduced its practice
ban dissidents Tuesday. of handing down long pris-
human rights and the long- Still, Obama heralded a on sentences for crimes hu-
“new day” in the U.S.-Cuba man rights groups consider
standing U.S. economic relationship and said “part to be political.
of normalizing relations Cuba released dozens of
embargo during an un- means we discuss these dif- prisoners as part of its deal
ferences directly.” to normalize relations with
precedented joint news Castro was blistering in his the U.S., and in a recent re-
criticism of the American port, Amnesty International
conference that stunned embargo, which he called did not name any current
“the most important obsta- prisoners of conscience
Cubans unaccustomed to cle” to his country’s eco- in Cuba.
nomic development. He Ben Rhodes, Obama’s
their leaders being aggres- also pressed Obama to re- deputy national security
turn the U.S. naval base at adviser, said the U.S. regu-
sively questioned. Guantanamo Bay, which larly raises specific cases
is on the island of Cuba, to and some are resolved,
The exchanges under- his government. but added Cuba typically
“There are profound differ- insists they’re being held for
Secretary of State John Kerry, right, talks with Cuban Vice Presi- scored deep divisions that ences between our coun- other crimes. Rhodes said,
dent Miguel Diaz-Canel, left, as they wait for the arrival of Presi- tries that will not go away,” “I’ve shared many lists with
dent Barack Obama, and first lady Michelle Obama, as they still exist between the two Castro said plainly. the Cuban government.”
attend a State Dinner hosted by Cuban President Raul Castro at White House officials spent Obama’s and Castro’s
the Palace of the Revolution, countries despite rapidly weeks pushing their Cuban comments were broad-
counterparts to agree for cast live on state television,
improved relations in the 15 the leaders to take ques- which is tightly controlled
tions from reporters af- by the government and
months since Obama and ter their private meeting, the Communist Party.
reaching agreement just At an outdoor cafe in Ha-
hours before Obama and vana, about a dozen Cu-
Castro appeared before bans and tourists watched
cameras. in awed silence. One wom-
It’s extremely rare for Cas- an held her hand to her
tro to give a press confer- mouth in shock.
ence, though he has some- “It’s very significant to hear
times taken questions from this from our president,
reporters spontaneously for him to recognize that
when the mood strikes. not all human rights are
While the issue of political respected in Cuba,” said
prisoners is hugely impor- Raul Rios, a 47-year-old
tant to Cuban-Americans driver, who also expressed
and the international com- agreement with Castro’s
munity, most people on the defense that Cuba is good
island are more concerned in some areas, no country is
about the shortage of perfect and all should try to
goods and their struggles do better.
with local bureaucracy.
Castro appeared agitated Continued on Page 3
at times during the ques-
tioning, professing to not
