Obama and Castro Hold Unprecedented Meeting

By Katie Nicora 3/21/2016

Courtesy: Wiki Commons

Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro met Monday in Cuba to talk human rights and the longstanding US trade embargo. The two leaders participated in a joint news conference, an unprecedented event considering the decades of tension between the countries and Castro’s usual aversion of the press.

The conference marks the first official meeting between the US and Cuban governments in over 50 years. Obama declared a “new day” of openness between the countries, but the presidents’ exchanges were marred by old tensions.

Castro, unused to being questioned by the media, at times seemed agitated. When an American journalist pressed him about political prisoners being detained in Cuba, he answered that, if named, the prisoners would “be released before the night ends.”

“What political prisoners? Give me a name or names,” Castro said.

Human rights groups have since produced, over email and social media, names of people allegedly imprisoned in Cuba for challenging Castro’s government. Castro deflected the criticism, saying a country that doesn’t provide universal healthcare, education, or equal pay is in no position to lecture Cuba.

“I actually welcome President Castro commenting on some of the areas he feels that we’re falling short,” responded Obama, “Because I think we should not be immune or afraid of criticism or discussion.”

Obama also said he expects to see the trade embargo lifted, which Castro has deemed “the most important obstacle to [Cuba’s] economic development and the well-being of the Cuban people.” Likewise, the Cuban president stressed his desire for the US to give its naval base on Guantanamo Bay back to Cuba.
“What is most important is that we have started taking the first steps to build a new relationship,” Castro stated, “One that has never existed between Cuba and the United States.”