Representatives of Cuban Society to Travel to the U.S. for Opening of Cuban Embassy

HAVANA, Cuba, Jul 16 (acn) A diverse representation of Cuban society will travel to Washington to participate in the opening of the Cuban embassy in the U.S. capital on Monday, July 20, coinciding with the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between both countries.

Gustavo Machin, U.S. deputy director general of the U.S. Department of the island's Foreign Ministry said in conversation with reporters that the delegation will be headed by Bruno Rodriguez, Minister of Foreign Affairs (FM), who will speak at the opening ceremony.
This is the first time since the triumph of the Revolution in 1959 that a Cuban FM officially visits the United States, and as it was known he will be received by the Secretary of State, John Kerry, at the headquarters of the State Department.
Some 30 people make up the delegation, which includes intellectuals, former diplomats, artists, deputies, scientists, educators, athletes, farmers and religious persons, among them Ramon Pez Ferro, a participant in the attack of the Moncada Barracks; Eusebio Leal, Historian of Havana; Ana Maria Mari Machado, vice-president of the National Assembly of People's Power, painter Alexis Leiva Machado, Kcho; singer Silvio Rodriguez; scientist Jorge Berlanga, creator of Heberprot P, and Joel Ortega Dopico, president of Cuba's Council of Churches.
Machin confirmed that on July 20 diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States will be officially reestablished, the respective missions will begin to operate as embassies and the current heads of interests sections become Charge d'Affairs.
Coinciding with this date the Cuban legation in Washington will be opened in a solemn but brief ceremony on Monday morning, when the Cuban flag will be hoisted, the National Anthem sung and Foreign Minister Rodriguez will address participants.
After 54 years of severance of diplomatic relations, the reopening of the embassy will be a significant event, the result of an agreement between the two nations, pointed out the official.
This will mark the culmination of the first phase of the process that started on December 17, 2014, and as noted by Army General Raul Castro at the closing of the Fifth Ordinary Period of Sessions of the Eighth Legislature of Parliament, a new stage towards the normalization of bilateral relations will begin.
Starting from that moment we will begin to discuss issues in the search for solutions to the problems that have accumulated for decades and affect relations between the two countries and peoples, and will require the willingness of both parties, stressed the diplomat.
While answering a question from the press on how the dialogue will continue he assured that subjects of interest will be put on the table, but there are no details yet on whether it will be through working committees, if all the issues will be tackled at once or one by one, questions that will be decided by the parties.
The official reiterated Cuba's willingness to continue making progress in talks with the U.S. government for the benefit of both peoples, the majority of which support the process initiated on December 17.
As reiterated by the Cuban government, especially President Raul Castro, there can be no normal relations if the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba is not lifted, the territory illegally occupied by the Guantanamo Naval Base returned, radio and television broadcasts into the national territory cease, the subversive programs eliminated, and compensation to the Cuban people for human losses and irreparable damage in these five decades of harassment agreed.
According to ACN, some 500 people who have worked for years to improve relations between the two countries have been invited to the opening ceremony of the embassy, among which we find members of the U.S. Congress, non-governmental organizations, solidarity groups, researchers and entrepreneurs, among others.