President Obama Says Cuba Should Make Next Move – Raul Castro Willing to Put Everything on the Table
Before heading to the Summit of the Americas, President Obama, while in Mexico said Cuba needs to make the “next move” to help bridge the divide between the US and Cuba. Now Cuba’s Raul Castro has said he is willing to talk with the US about everything, including press freedom, political prisoners and human rights. According to the BBC:
Speaking to Latin American leaders in Venezuela, President Castro said he had sent word to the US government “in private and in public” that he is open to negotiations as long as it is “on equal terms”.
There is still no formal contact between the Cuban authorities and the US government, but this is the latest in a series of exchanges which suggest that both sides appear to be making efforts to find a way to end the 50-year stalemate.
Earlier this week, the US president announced that he was lifting restrictions on Cuban Americans visiting relatives on the island and sending money home.
Following the easing of US travel restrictions, Mr Obama said it was up to Havana to make the next move.