US Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in Havana

HAVANA, Cuba, Aug 14 (acn) US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Havana at 9.00 this morning for the flag-raising ceremony to officially open the embassy of the United States in Cuba.

At the tarmac of the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, Secretary Kerry was received by Ana Teresita Gonzalez Fraga, deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

Kerry travels with a 19-strong delegation that includes several Congresspeople, members of the Obama administration, and other important figures of the US government.

He will preside over the ceremony at 9.45 this morning, and carry out several activities that include a meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez at 11.10, and a joint press conference at 12.30 at the Hotel Nacional.

On December 17, 2014, the presidents of Cuba and the United States, Raul Castro and Barack Obama, respectively, announced the beginning of a process to re-establish diplomatic relations.

On July 20, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez opened the Cuban embassy in Washington.