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Obama hails 'new chapter' in US-Cuba ties Obama hails 'new chapter' in US-Cuba ties
(35 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has hailed a "new chapter" in US relations with Cuba, announcing moves to normalise diplomatic and economic ties.US President Barack Obama has hailed a "new chapter" in US relations with Cuba, announcing moves to normalise diplomatic and economic ties.
Mr Obama said the plans represented the "most significant changes in US policy towards Cuba in 50 years". Mr Obama said the US' current approach was "outdated" and the changes were the "most significant" in US policy towards Cuba in 50 years.
Cuban President Raul Castro welcomed the policy shift in his own national televised address. Cuban President Raul Castro said he welcomed the shift in a TV address.
The move includes the release of American Alan Gross by Cuba and three Cubans jailed in Florida for spying. The move includes the release of US contractor Alan Gross and three Cubans held in the US.
Mr Gross arrived at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington from Cuba on Wednesday. Footage showed him disembarking from a US government plane onto the tarmac where he was met by a crowd. Wednesday's announcement follows more than a year of secret talks in Canada and at the Vatican, directly involving the Pope.
The 65-year-old spent five years behind bars after being accused of subversion, while on a mission to bring internet services to Jewish community groups in Cuba. The US is looking to open an embassy in Havana in the coming months, Mr Obama said.
The US and Cuba say he was freed on humanitarian grounds.
'Respectful'
Mr Obama announced measures that he said would end an "outdated approach that for decades has failed to advance our interests".
The US is looking to open an embassy in Havana in the coming months, he said.
The plans set out in a White House statement also include:The plans set out in a White House statement also include:
Mr Castro, said the changes were something Cuba had been pressing for for a long time. Mr Castro said the changes were something Cuba had been pressing for for a long time.
"Ever since my election... I have reiterated on many occasions our preparedness to hold a respectful dialogue with the government of the United States based on sovereign equality." "Ever since my election... I have reiterated on many occasions our preparedness to hold a respectful dialogue with the government of the United States based on sovereign equality," he said.
President Castro urged Washington to lift a trade and economic embargo imposed on the communist-run island - a move that can only be made by Congress.
President Obama appealed to lawmakers to consider doing this, saying that the US policy of isolating Cuba had clearly failed.
Analysis: Vanessa Buschschluter, Latin America editor, BBC News onlineAnalysis: Vanessa Buschschluter, Latin America editor, BBC News online
The detention of Alan Gross had for years been a major hurdle on the path to closer ties between Cuba and the US.The detention of Alan Gross had for years been a major hurdle on the path to closer ties between Cuba and the US.
His release allows the US to "cut loose the anchor of the past", as the Obama administration put it.His release allows the US to "cut loose the anchor of the past", as the Obama administration put it.
Washington had held out the prospect of full diplomatic ties within months, but ordinary Cubans are going to be more interested in the economic measures the US government has promised.Washington had held out the prospect of full diplomatic ties within months, but ordinary Cubans are going to be more interested in the economic measures the US government has promised.
Raising remittances levels from $500 (£320) to $2,000 a quarter could make a real difference to the livings standards of those Cubans with relatives and friends living in the US.Raising remittances levels from $500 (£320) to $2,000 a quarter could make a real difference to the livings standards of those Cubans with relatives and friends living in the US.
And allowing telecom firms to improve internet services in Cuba would also make a tangible change to a country which has one of the lowest rates of internet penetration in the world.And allowing telecom firms to improve internet services in Cuba would also make a tangible change to a country which has one of the lowest rates of internet penetration in the world.
But Cubans critical of the government have slammed the Obama administration for "swallowing the hook" and allowing Raul Castro to score a political victory on the back of Mr Gross's years in jail.But Cubans critical of the government have slammed the Obama administration for "swallowing the hook" and allowing Raul Castro to score a political victory on the back of Mr Gross's years in jail.
Mr Gross' arrest and imprisonment had undermined attempts to thaw diplomatic relations between the two countries.Mr Gross' arrest and imprisonment had undermined attempts to thaw diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The three Cubans released in the US are part of the so-called "Cuban Five" convicted of spying. He arrived at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington from Cuba on Wednesday. Footage showed him disembarking from a US government plane onto the tarmac where he was met by a crowd.
Prosecutors said they had sought to infiltrate US military bases and spied on Cuban exiles in Florida. The 65-year-old spent five years behind bars after being accused of subversion, while on a mission to bring internet services to Jewish community groups in Cuba.
The US and Cuba say he was freed on humanitarian grounds.
Havana has also freed an unnamed American intelligence officer who had been in jail in Cuba for nearly 20 years.
Three Cubans jailed in the US have arrived back in Cuba.
They are part of the so-called "Cuban Five" who US prosecutors said had sought to infiltrate US military bases and spied on Cuban exiles in Florida.
Two of them had recently been allowed to return to Cuba after finishing their sentences.Two of them had recently been allowed to return to Cuba after finishing their sentences.
Key datesKey dates
1959: Fidel Castro and his guerrilla army defeat the US-backed Cuban regime of Fulgencio Batista1959: Fidel Castro and his guerrilla army defeat the US-backed Cuban regime of Fulgencio Batista
1960-1961: Cuba nationalises US businesses without compensation; US breaks off diplomatic relations and imposes a trade embargo in response1960-1961: Cuba nationalises US businesses without compensation; US breaks off diplomatic relations and imposes a trade embargo in response
2001: Five Cubans, dubbed the Cuban Five, are jailed in Miami for spying2001: Five Cubans, dubbed the Cuban Five, are jailed in Miami for spying
2008: Raul Castro becomes Cuban president2008: Raul Castro becomes Cuban president
2009: US citizen Alan Gross detained in Cuba accused of spying2009: US citizen Alan Gross detained in Cuba accused of spying
2011: One of the Cuban Five, Rene Gonzalez, is freed by the US2011: One of the Cuban Five, Rene Gonzalez, is freed by the US
Dec 2013: US President Barack Obama and Raul Castro shake hands at Nelson Mandela's funeral - the first such public gesture since 1959Dec 2013: US President Barack Obama and Raul Castro shake hands at Nelson Mandela's funeral - the first such public gesture since 1959
Feb 2014: The second of the Cuban Five, Fernando Gonzalez, is freed after completing his sentenceFeb 2014: The second of the Cuban Five, Fernando Gonzalez, is freed after completing his sentence
17 December 2014: Alan Gross is released by Cuba17 December 2014: Alan Gross is released by Cuba