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| U.S. to start talks with Cuba to normalize ties | U.S. to start talks with Cuba to normalize ties |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 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, a U.S. official said Wednesday. | 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, a U.S. official said Wednesday. |
| The landmark initiatives appeared to be set in motion by a surprise prisoner swap that freed American contractor Alan Gross after five years in custody in Cuba. In exchange, the United States would release three Cubans jailed for espionage, the Associated Press reported. | The landmark initiatives appeared to be set in motion by a surprise prisoner swap that freed American contractor Alan Gross after five years in custody in Cuba. In exchange, the United States would release three Cubans jailed for espionage, the Associated Press 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. | 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. |
| [Read our live blog: Restoring U.S.-Cuba ties] | |
| Possible moves to close the rifts would mark a significant moment in Western Hemisphere politics. | 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 has played a role in affairs across the world — from snubs against the United States from Cuba’s allies in Latin America to the hero’s welcome given to then-President Fidel Castro during a visit to Tehran in 2001. | The United State has maintain various sanctions against Cuba for more than five decades and enmity between Washington and Havana has played a role in affairs across the world — from snubs against the United States from Cuba’s allies in 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. | At the moment, the United States and Cuba do not have full diplomatic relations, but allow interest sections to handle outreach. |
| The U.S. official said Gross departed Cuba on a U.S. government plane earlier Wednesday. He was released on humanitarian grounds by the Cuban government at the request of the United States, the official said. | The U.S. official said Gross departed Cuba on a U.S. government plane earlier Wednesday. He was released on humanitarian grounds by the Cuban government at the request of the United States, the official said. |
| The official 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. It was his fifth trip to Cuba to work with Jewish communities on setting up Internet access that bypassed local censorship. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| “We’re like screaming and jumping up and down,” Gross’s sister, Bonnie Rubinstein, told the AP from her home in Texas. | “We’re like screaming and jumping up and down,” Gross’s sister, Bonnie Rubinstein, told the AP from her home in Texas. |
| Three lawmakers — Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) — left Washington this morning aboard a flight that is returning to the Washington area with Alan Gross on board, according to congressional aides familiar with the plans. | Three lawmakers — Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) — left Washington this morning aboard a flight that is returning to the Washington area with Alan Gross on board, according to congressional aides familiar with the plans. |
| The three Cubans released in exchange for Gross are part of the so-called Cuban Five, a group sent by Fidel Castro to spy in South Florida, the AP reported. The men were convicted in 2001 in Miami on charges including conspiracy and failure to register as foreign agents in the United States. Two other members of the group were released previously after finishing their sentences. | The three Cubans released in exchange for Gross are part of the so-called Cuban Five, a group sent by Fidel Castro to spy in South Florida, the AP reported. The men were convicted in 2001 in Miami on charges including conspiracy and failure to register as foreign agents in the United States. Two other members of the group were released previously after finishing their sentences. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| But steps to restore ties with Cuba are certain to meet resistance by some groups, particularly the Cuban community in South Florida that remain staunchly opposed to the communist leadership in Havana. | But steps to restore ties with Cuba are certain to meet resistance by some groups, particularly the Cuban community in South Florida that remain staunchly opposed to the communist leadership in Havana. |
| Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said opening diplomatic channels with Cuba do “absolutely nothing to further human rights and democracy in Cuba,” | Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said opening diplomatic channels with Cuba do “absolutely nothing to further human rights and democracy in Cuba,” |
| “But it potentially goes a long way in providing the economic lift that the Castro regime needs to become permanent fixtures in Cuba for generations to come,” he told the AP. | “But it potentially goes a long way in providing the economic lift that the Castro regime needs to become permanent fixtures in Cuba for generations to come,” he told the AP. |
| Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) denounced the reported decision to free the three jailed Cubans as an “extremely dangerous precedent.” | Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) denounced the reported decision to free the three jailed Cubans as an “extremely dangerous precedent.” |
| “President Obama’s actions have vindicated the brutal behavior of the Cuban government,” he said in a statement. | “President Obama’s actions have vindicated the brutal behavior of the Cuban government,” he said in a statement. |
| Adam Goldman, Karen DeYoung and Ed O’Keefe contributed to this report. | Adam Goldman, Karen DeYoung and Ed O’Keefe contributed to this report. |