Hopes are rising for reconciliation between Cuba and the USA following the election of Barack Obama as president.
The main obstacles to restoring relations are that either the USA would have to drop demands for democracy on the island, or Cuba would have to accept and implement them. Both are equally unlikely scenarios with no obvious middle ground on which to base a compromise.
During the presidential election campaign Obama stated that the current embargo would remain in place to be used as a bargaining chip to bring about democratic change in Cuba.
However, many political experts suggest that a greater impact could be achieved by ending the embargo and sanctions which are largely blamed by the Government to explain the island´s poverty and hardships the people suffer. Lifting the restrictions would give the population the opportunity to judge the leaders on their own merits.
Taking this course of action would not be easy. First of all it would require an act of Congress to reverse the laws passed in 1992 and 1996. Further, it would require both sides backing down from deeply entrenched positions at great political cost.
Wayne Smith, the former chief of the U.S. mission in Havana recently stated "I don't see any downside to ending the embargo. The embargo at this point is an anachronism that makes us look foolish".
Improved relations could be achieved by each side taking small steps towards mending the broken bridges.
Cubans are encouraged by Raul and Fidel Castro´s apparent acceptance of Obama as a good guy with sincere, well meaning intentions. The new president´s willingness to sit down and negotiate caused a stir when he announced this during the election campaign but did not deter voters from electing him as president.
While the politicians mull their next moves, ordinary Cubans are infused with a hope the island hasn't seen in quite some time. "Everything changed over there today," Havana resident Roberto Gonzalez said "I can see the day that Barack Obama will step onto Cuban soil," he said. "That day isn't very far off."
The consequence of this is that Cuba could soon become a new, exciting tourist and expat destination.
The main obstacles to restoring relations are that either the USA would have to drop demands for democracy on the island, or Cuba would have to accept and implement them. Both are equally unlikely scenarios with no obvious middle ground on which to base a compromise.
During the presidential election campaign Obama stated that the current embargo would remain in place to be used as a bargaining chip to bring about democratic change in Cuba.
However, many political experts suggest that a greater impact could be achieved by ending the embargo and sanctions which are largely blamed by the Government to explain the island´s poverty and hardships the people suffer. Lifting the restrictions would give the population the opportunity to judge the leaders on their own merits.
Taking this course of action would not be easy. First of all it would require an act of Congress to reverse the laws passed in 1992 and 1996. Further, it would require both sides backing down from deeply entrenched positions at great political cost.
Wayne Smith, the former chief of the U.S. mission in Havana recently stated "I don't see any downside to ending the embargo. The embargo at this point is an anachronism that makes us look foolish".
Improved relations could be achieved by each side taking small steps towards mending the broken bridges.
Cubans are encouraged by Raul and Fidel Castro´s apparent acceptance of Obama as a good guy with sincere, well meaning intentions. The new president´s willingness to sit down and negotiate caused a stir when he announced this during the election campaign but did not deter voters from electing him as president.
While the politicians mull their next moves, ordinary Cubans are infused with a hope the island hasn't seen in quite some time. "Everything changed over there today," Havana resident Roberto Gonzalez said "I can see the day that Barack Obama will step onto Cuban soil," he said. "That day isn't very far off."
The consequence of this is that Cuba could soon become a new, exciting tourist and expat destination.
Living & Investing in the New Cuba - an eBook published by escapeartist.com
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