US-Cuba: Obama-Castro ‘spar’ over rights, talks on

American President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, along with the Secretary of State John Kerry, attended a state dinner with Mr Castro in Havana. In the latest developments in the American-Cuban politics, Presidents Raul Castro and Obama sparred over pivotal human rights issues, including the American prison at Guantanamo Bay and Cuba’s political prisoners. With such political ties strengthening further, with the differences receding in the background, there seems to be a new lease of alliance between the two nations.

Image: Reuters

At a historical press-conference, Castro stated that if he was given a list of political prisoners, he would “release them tonight”. In the recent days, the White House has reported it has given Cuba lists of dissidents in the past. However, Castro does not view the prisoners as ‘dissidents’, US authorities further remarked. That disagreement is something central to the ongoing tiff between US and Cuban officials.

With alliance being reported to be underway between the two nations, much more needs to be done to lift the US embargo on trade with Cuba, Castro added, explaining that the Guantanamo Bay detention camp must close at the earliest. And Obama, the first serving US president to visit Cuba since 1959, said the trade embargo would be fully lifted. “Cuba’s destiny will not be decided by the United States or any other nation… The future of Cuba will be decided by Cubans not by anybody else,” Obama had said.

The warm hospitality of the reception was noticed ad remarked by all, at the dinner.

Image: Reuters

Earlier on Monday, Castro had defended Cuba’s say on the rights and pointed to problems in the US. “We defend human rights, in our view civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights are indivisible, inter-dependent and universal.”  Castro is not usually subject to any aggressive questioning from the media and called the prisoners’ question “not polite”, later concluding  conference by saying “I think this is enough”.

Obama has also been found stating new changes shall be found soon.

Source: BBC 

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