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Cuba frees American Alan Gross after 5 years detention on spy charges U.S. to start talks with Cuba to normalize ties
(35 minutes later)
Cuba has freed American Alan Gross after five years in custody as part of a deal that also included the release of three Cubans jailed in the United States, a senior Obama administration official and news reports said. The United States and Cuba will begin talks to normalize relations, including opening an embassy in Havana and putting to rest one most enduring Cold War standoffs, news reports said Wednesday.
The exchange also could open the way for political openings between Washington and Havana, which has been under U.S. sanctions for more than four decades. The landmark initiative appeared to be set in motion by a prisoner swap deal that freed American contractor Alan Gross after five years in custody in Cuba. In exchange, the United States would free three Cubans jailed for espionage, the reports said.
President Obama was expected to make a statement on Cuba at noon. At the same time, Cuban President Raul Castro was scheduled to address his nation about relations with the United States, Cuban state television reported.President Obama was expected to make a statement on Cuba at noon. At the same time, Cuban President Raul Castro was scheduled to address his nation about relations with the United States, Cuban state television reported.
Possible moves to close the rifts would mark a significant moment in Western Hemisphere politics.
The United State has maintain various sanctions against Cuba for more than five decades and enmity between Washington and Havana have played a role in affairs from U.S. relations with Latin America to the hero’s welcome given to then-President Fidel Castro during a visit to Tehran in 2001.
At the moment, the United States and Cuba do not have full diplomatic relations, but allow interest sections to handle outreach.
The Obama administration official said Gross has departed Cuba on a U.S. government plane. He was released on humanitarian grounds by the Cuban government at the request of the United States, the official said.The Obama administration official said Gross has departed Cuba on a U.S. government plane. He was released on humanitarian grounds by the Cuban government at the request of the United States, the official said.
The spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
There was no immediate comment from the White House.There was no immediate comment from the White House.
Gross, 65, was detained in December 2009 while setting up illegal Internet access as a subcontractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development. He was later sentenced to 15 years in prison for espionage. Gross, 65, was detained in December 2009 while setting up illegal Internet access as a subcontractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development. It was his fifth trip to Cuba to work with Jewish communities on setting up Internet access that bypassed local censorship.
Cuba considers USAID’s programs illegal attempts by the U.S. to undermine its government. He was later sentenced to 15 years in prison for espionage. Cuba considers USAID’s programs illegal attempts by the U.S. to undermine its government.
The three Cubans released in exchange for Gross are part of the so-called Cuban Five, a group sent by Cuba’s then-President Fidel Castro to spy in South Florida, the Associated Press reported. The men were convicted in 2001 in Miami on charges including conspiracy and failure to register as foreign agents in the U.S. “We’re like screaming and jumping up and down,” Gross’s sister, Bonnie Rubinstein, told the AP from her home in Texas.
The three Cubans released in exchange for Gross are part of the so-called Cuban Five, a group sent by Cuba’s then-President Fidel Castro to spy in South Florida, the Associated Press reported. The men were convicted in 2001 in Miami on charges including conspiracy and failure to register as foreign agents in the United States.
Earlier this month, Obama marked Gross’s fifth anniversary in detention with a statement suggesting that his release could open the way for better relations between the longtime foes.Earlier this month, Obama marked Gross’s fifth anniversary in detention with a statement suggesting that his release could open the way for better relations between the longtime foes.
“The Cuban Government’s release of Alan on humanitarian grounds would remove an impediment to more constructive relations between the United States and Cuba,” Obama said.“The Cuban Government’s release of Alan on humanitarian grounds would remove an impediment to more constructive relations between the United States and Cuba,” Obama said.
At the time, Gross’ wife, Judy, said in a written statement that he had lost more than 100 pounds and faced a host of medical problems.
The president has taken some steps to ease U.S. restrictions after Raul Castro took over as president in 2010, including lifting travel and financial blocks on Americans with family in Cuba. Obama, however, has so far gave no indiction of plans to fully drop the embargo.The president has taken some steps to ease U.S. restrictions after Raul Castro took over as president in 2010, including lifting travel and financial blocks on Americans with family in Cuba. Obama, however, has so far gave no indiction of plans to fully drop the embargo.