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U.S. NEWS A3
Monday 21 March 2016
Obama arrives in Cuba for what he calls a “historic visit”
JULIE PACE communism spreading to
MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN the Western Hemisphere. for a game between the President Barack Obama holds an umbrella as he walks with first
Associated Press Domestic politics in both beloved national team
HAVANA (AP) — Stepping countries contributed to and Major League Base- lady Michelle Obama upon landing at the airport in Havana,
into history, President the continued estrange- ball’s Tampa Bay Rays. The
Barack Obama opened ment well after the Cold president also planned a Cuba, Sunday, March 20, 2016. Associated Press
an extraordinary visit to War ended. He wanted to speech at the Grand The-
Cuba on Sunday, eager come to Cuba with all his ater of Havana laying out
to push decades of heart,” 79-year-old Odilia his vision for greater free-
acrimony deeper into the Collazo said in Spanish as doms and more economic
past and forge irreversible she watched Obama’s ar- opportunity in Cuba. Two
ties with America’s former rival live on state television. years after taking power
adversary. “It is wonderful “Let God will that this is in 2008, Castro launched
to be here,” he said. good for all Cubans. economic and social re-
Obama’s whirlwind trip is It seems to me that forms that appear slow-
a crowning moment in his Obama wants to do moving to many Cubans
and Cuban President Raul something good be- and foreigners, but are last-
Castro’s ambitious effort fore he leaves.” Ahead ing and widespread within
to restore normal relations of Obama’s arrival, Cuban society. The chang-
between their countries. counter-protesters and es have allowed hundreds
While deep differences police broke up an anti- of thousands of people to
persist, the economic and government demonstra- work in the private sec-
political relationship has tion by the Ladies in White tor and have relaxed lim-
changed rapidly in the 15 group, whose members its on cellphones, Internet
months since the leaders were taken into custody and Cubans’ comfort with
vowed a new beginning. by female police officers discussing their country’s
Wielding an umbrella on in a scene that plays out problems in public, for ex-
a rainy Havana afternoon, in Havana each Sunday. ample.
the president stepped off They’re typically detained
of Air Force One and was briefly and then released.
greeted by top Cuban of- Obama’s visit was high-
ficials — but not Raul Cas- ly anticipated in Cuba,
tro. The Cuban leader where workers furiously
frequently greets major cleaned up the streets in
world figures upon their Old Havana and gave
arrival at Jose Marti Inter- buildings a fresh coat of
national Airport, but was paint. American flags were
absent on the tarmac. raised alongside the Cu-
Instead, he planned to ban colors in parts of the
greet Obama on Monday capital, an improbable
at Palace of the Revolu- image for those who have
tion. Obama’s first stop was lived through a half-cen-
a Havana hotel, where he tury of bitterness between
greeted U.S. the two countries. Many
Embassy staff and their Cubans were staying home
families and noted the mo- in order to avoid extensive
mentous nature of his visit closures of main boule-
— the first by a sitting U.S. vards. The city’s seaside
president since 1928, when Malecon promenade was
Calvin Coolidge arrived in largely deserted Sunday
a battleship. “This is a his- morning except for a few
toric visit, and it’s an histor- cars, joggers, fishermen
ic opportunity to engage and pelicans. The presi-
with the Cuban people,” dent’s schedule in Cuba
said Obama, joined by first is jam-packed, including
lady Michelle Obama and an event with U.S. and
daughters Malia and Sa- Cuban entrepreneurs. But
sha. Dozens of U.S. law- much of Obama’s visit was
makers and business about appealing directly
leaders arrived sepa- to the Cuban people and
rately for Obama’s visit. celebrating the island’s vi-
After greeting embassy brant culture. “I don’t think
staff, Obama and his fam- that the Cuban people are
ily toured Old Havana by going to be bewitched by
foot, including the Havana North American culture,”
Cathedral. For more than Gustavo Machin, Cuba’s
50 years, Cuba was an un- deputy director of U.S. af-
imaginable destination for fairs, told The Associated
a U.S. president, as well as Press. “We don’t fear ties
most American citizens. with the United States.” A
The U.S. severed diplo- highlight of Obama’s visit
matic relations with Cuba comes Tuesday when he
in 1961 after Fidel Castro’s joins Castro and a crowd
revolution sparked fears of of baseball-crazed Cubans
