Obama speech to Cubans aims at burying Cold War tensions

Cuba

U.S. President Barack Obama left his most important speech for his final day in Havana, a televised address shown live in Cuba outlining his vision of the future. With Cuba’s President Raul Castro and his cabinet looking on, Obama stressed that the United States would not impose change on Cuba, that was up to the Cubans to do. Then he spoke about what he considers universal human rights.

CCTV America’s Michael Voss reports from Havana.

Obama called on the U.S. Congress to lift the trade embargo but said that to benefit, Cuba needed economic changes as well.

The U.S. president and Castro also attended an exhibition game between the Cuban National Team and the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. They are the first U.S. major league team to play in the baseball-loving island in decades.

Just what impact, if any, President Obama’s historic visit to Cuba will have on bringing about political or economic change may become clearer after next month’s Communist Party Congress, the first to be held in Havana in five years.


Young Cubans react to President Obama’s visit

Although major differences remain between the U.S. and Cuba, the two nations are united in their love of baseball. Thousands watched the exhibition match between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban national team on television.

CCTV America’s Sean Callebs reports from Havana.
Follow Sean Callebs on Twitter @seancctv

Weekend nights, the city’s famed Malecon esplanade is crowded with scores of the country’s youth.

There’s no question President Obama’s visit, and the prospect of better relations with the U.S., is sparking excitement and discussion.

Many hanging out on the Malecon hope this renewed relationship will breathe new economic life into Cuba.


Former State Department official Vikki Huddleston on US-Cuba relations

CCTV America’s Asieh Namdar interviewed Vikki Huddleston, the former Director of Cuban Affairs at the State Department and the former Chief of Mission at the United States Interests Section in Havana about the historic visit.
Follow Asieh Namdar on Twitter@asiehnamdar


Former Cuba Ambassador to Belgium Carlos Alzugaray on US-Cuba ties

CCTV America’s Mike Walter interviewed Carlos Alzugaray, a professor of international relations at the University of Havana about the Obama-Castro visit. Alzugaray has formerly served as the Cuba Ambassador to Belgium and former Head of Mission to the European Union.
Follow Mike Walter on Twitter @mikewaltercctv