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| '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| Mr Obama said Washington's current approach was "outdated" and the changes were the "most significant" in US policy towards Cuba in 50 years. | Mr Obama said Washington's current approach was "outdated" and the changes were the "most significant" in US policy towards Cuba in 50 years. |
| Cuban President Raul Castro said he welcomed the shift in a TV address. | Cuban President Raul Castro said he welcomed the shift in a TV address. |
| The move includes the release of US contractor Alan Gross and three Cubans held in the US. | The move includes the release of US contractor Alan Gross and three Cubans held in the US. |
| Wednesday's announcements follow more than a year of secret talks in Canada and at the Vatican, directly involving Pope Francis. | Wednesday's announcements follow more than a year of secret talks in Canada and at the Vatican, directly involving Pope Francis. |
| Republican criticism | Republican criticism |
| The US is looking to open an embassy in Havana in the coming months, Mr Obama said. | The US is looking to open an embassy in Havana in the coming months, Mr Obama 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," he said. | "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 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. |
| Republican Senator Marco Rubio has criticised the new US policy, saying it would do nothing to address the issues of Cuba's political system and human rights record. | Republican Senator Marco Rubio has criticised the new US policy, saying it would do nothing to address the issues of Cuba's political system and human rights record. |
| Analysis: Vanessa Buschschluter, Latin America editor, BBC News online | Analysis: 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' 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' years in jail. |
| Mr Gross' arrest and imprisonment had previously undermined attempts to thaw diplomatic relations between the two countries. | Mr Gross' arrest and imprisonment had previously undermined attempts to thaw diplomatic relations between the two countries. |
| Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, he thanked his family and supporters, saying: "It was crucial to my survival knowing that I was not forgotten." | Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, he thanked his family and supporters, saying: "It was crucial to my survival knowing that I was not forgotten." |
| He described the policy shift as a "game changer". | He described the policy shift as a "game changer". |
| Earlier, the 65-year-old arrived at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington. Footage showed him disembarking from a US government plane onto the tarmac where he was met by US Secretary of State John Kerry and other officials. | Earlier, the 65-year-old arrived at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington. Footage showed him disembarking from a US government plane onto the tarmac where he was met by US Secretary of State John Kerry and other officials. |
| Mr Kerry said he was looking forward "to being the first secretary of state in 60 years to visit Cuba". | Mr Kerry said he was looking forward "to being the first secretary of state in 60 years to visit Cuba". |
| Mr Gross spent five years behind bars after being accused of subversion, while on a mission to bring internet services to Jewish community groups in Cuba. | Mr Gross 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. | The US and Cuba say he was freed on humanitarian grounds. |
| The Cuban government has also freed an unnamed American intelligence officer who had been in jail in Cuba for nearly 20 years. | The Cuban government 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. | 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. | 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 dates | Key dates |
| 1959: Fidel Castro and his guerrilla army defeat the US-backed Cuban regime of Fulgencio Batista | 1959: 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 response | 1960-1961: 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 spying | 2001: Five Cubans, dubbed the Cuban Five, are jailed in Miami for spying |
| 2008: Raul Castro becomes Cuban president | 2008: Raul Castro becomes Cuban president |
| 2009: US citizen Alan Gross detained in Cuba accused of spying | 2009: US citizen Alan Gross detained in Cuba accused of spying |
| 2011: One of the Cuban Five, Rene Gonzalez, is freed by the US | 2011: 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 1959 | Dec 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 sentence | Feb 2014: The second of the Cuban Five, Fernando Gonzalez, is freed after completing his sentence |
| 17 December 2014: Alan Gross is released by Cuba | 17 December 2014: Alan Gross is released by Cuba |