‘Totalitarian regime’
The European Union has taken a different approach and has already removed all its sanctions and recently announced a 40m euro development aid package.
The EU argues that engaging with the Cubans on areas of common interest such as trade and the environment could open the door to future discussions on issues such as human rights.
Dissidents such as Miriam Leiva, a rights campaigner, are sceptical of the approach.
“Its very naive what they are doing,” she said.
“You can’t expect a totalitarian regime to change just because you come along and say I want a dialogue. It’s not a dialogue, it’s a monologue.”
She does welcome the moves on allowing Cuban Americans visiting relatives and sending remittances home.
The announcement from Washington did not make headline news on Cuban state television, but the statement by the presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs was shown and reported, including details of the telecommunications plans.
In one of his recent editorials, former President Fidel Castro wrote that Cuba “does not fear dialogue with the United States nor do we need confrontation to exist”.
President Obama has made the first move. All eyes are now on President Raul Castro to see if he can offer any reciprocal gestures to help push the process forward.
Tags: regime'