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On Top Of The News Email:news@arubatoday.com website: www.arubatoday.com Tel:+297 582-7800 Wednesday, March 23, 2016

President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle, daughters Sasha, second from left, and Malia, far left, stand with Cuba’s President Raul Castro, right, during a moment
of silence for the victims of attacks in Brussels, Belgium, before the start of an exhibition baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban National team
at Estadio Latinoamericano in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, March 22, 2016.

Associated Press

In Cuba, Obama calls for burying ‘last remnant’ of Cold War

JULIE PACE controlled state televi- desire for political change, ica’s Major League Base- tween Cuba and the Unit-
MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN sion, Obama said they particularly in conversa- ball. Leaving the game ed States is more likely than
Associated Press would be the ones to de- tions with foreign journalists. early for Jose Marti Interna- continued estrangement
HAVANA (AP) — Cap- termine their country’s fu- Juan Francisco Ugarte, Oli- tional Airport,Obama was to spur democracy.
ping his remarkable vis- ture, not the United States. va, a 71-year-old retired re- met there again by Cas- “What the United States
it to Cuba, President “Many suggested that I frigeration technician, said tro who walked him to Air was doing was not work-
Barack Obama on Tuesday come here and ask the peo- the American president Force One. ing,” Obama said. He reit-
declared an end to the ple of Cuba to tear some- “dared to say in the pres- They chatted in relaxed erated his call for the U.S.
“last remnant of the Cold thing down,” Obama said. ence of the leaders, of Raul fashion, any awkwardness Congress to lift the eco-
War in the Americas” and “But I’m appealing to the Castro, that (Cubans) had or tension apparently gone nomic embargo on Cuba,
openly urged the Cuban young people of Cuba the right to protest peace- from the previous day’s calling it an “outdated
people to pursue a more who will lift something up, fully without being beaten news conference that saw burden on the Cuban peo-
democratic future for this build something new.” or arrested.” Castro hit with tough ques- ple” — a condemnation
communist nation 90 miles On the streets of Havana, Omardy Isaac, a 43-year- tions from U.S. reporters. that was enthusiastically
from the Florida coast. the president’s address old who works in a gift How quickly political cheered by the crowd at
With Cuban President Raul sparked extraordinarily rare shop, said, “Cubans need change comes to Cuba, Havana’s Grand Theater.
Castro watching from a public discussions about all of their rights and I am in if at all, is uncertain. But The president’s visit was a
balcony, Obama said the democracy, and some an- favor of democracy.” the response from at least crowning moment in his
government should not ger with Cuba’s leaders. Later, Obama sat beside some Cubans was certain and Castro’s bold bid to re-
fear citizens who speak Cubans are used to com- Castro at a baseball game to be seen by Obama as store ties after a half-centu-
freely and vote for their plaining bitterly about eco- between Cuba’s beloved validation of his belief that ry diplomatic freeze.
own leaders. And with Cu- nomic matters but rarely national team and the restoring ties and facilitat-
bans watching on tightly speak publicly about any Tampa Bay Rays of Amer- ing more interactions be- Continued on next Page