CUBA-USA/YOUTHS Cuban artists and students see opportunity in return to diplomacy with U.S.

Record ID: 146835

  • Title: CUBA-USA/YOUTHS Cuban artists and students see opportunity in return to diplomacy with U.S.
  • Date: 17th July 2015
  • Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CUBAN SINGER, LARITZA BACALLAO, PERFORMING AT A CONCERT FOR FIDEL CASTRO'S BIRTHDAY
  • Embargoed: 1st August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cuba
  • Country: Cuba
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA87CZFQOJ75GFQD9VU2744LOZN
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Cuban artists and students see a bright future ahead as the Caribbean island restores diplomacy with former Cold War adversary the United States after more than 50 years of hostilities.
    Cuba and the United States will re-establish diplomatic relations on Monday (July 20) after a 54-year break and will re-open embassies in each other's capitals.
    Cuban President Raul Castro said on Wednesday (July 15) that the nation is prepared to break with the contentious past and peacefully coexist with the U.S., a transition welcomed by many of Havana's students and artists.
    "This new opening is favourable for the whole country, especially for us young people who are starting a new generation, who are creating new values. Above all I think it was time to establish both economic and cultural relations and we are seeing great changes in terms of commerce especially in our, in my sphere, which is art, we are seeing lots of unions with international groups, U.S. groups, where this did not exist before. There has also been a great opening in the sale of works of arts and in other aspects," arts and literature student in Havana, Carla Ochoa, told Reuters the day of Castro's announcement.
    The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington made its first appearance on Sunday (July 12) in Cuba as part of a tour that will include a dozen concerts in the context of the restoration of relations between the island and the United States.
    It is the first time that a gay choir has travelled to Cuba, a country where the LGBT community has made progress in recent years with the help of Mariela Castro, daughter of the current Cuban President Raul Castro, and director of the National Centre for Sexual Education.
    The Minnesota Orchestra also played to the sold-out 2000-seat National Theatre in Havana in May, in the first performance in Cuba by a full professional U.S. orchestra since 1999.
    The United States and Cuba began secret negotiations on restoring ties in mid-2013, leading to the historic announcement on December 17, 2014, when Castro and U.S. President Barack Obama said they had swapped prisoners and would seek to normalize relations.
    The previous deep freeze in U.S.-Cuba ties dated to January 1, 1959, when rebels led by brothers Fidel and Raul Castro toppled the U.S.-backed government of Fulgencio Batista. The Castros halted the longtime U.S.-friendly business climate in Cuba and drew ever closer to the Soviet Union.
    That led to a troubled history including a failed U.S.-organised invasion of Cuba by a force of exiles in 1961 and a thrust to the brink of nuclear war in 1962 over Soviet missiles stationed in Cuba.
    Cuban reggaeton singer, Baby Lores, said that Obama has realised that Cuba's ideology, like the tattoo of a young Fidel Castro on the musician's left arm, will not easily be removed.
    "The U.S., Obama in particular, and all those around him have realised that this country (Cuba) is not going to change, we are talking about history, about struggle, ideology, socially, it is not going to change, it is not a case of Fidel (Castro) or no Fidel. Many say that if Fidel dies, when Fidel dies, when he is not here - I am a young person of this generation, I was brought up with this, I don't know anything else, I defend it because I cannot stop defending what I know for something I don't know. I think this is a very important step. We hope that something concrete happens and truly that it is something positive for the Cuban people as what we have suffered most above everything are these political and economic wars," said Lores, who gained a permit to perform in Miami in 2012.
    With diplomatic ties restored, the two countries separated by 90 miles (145 km) of sea will now begin the more difficult and lengthy task of normalizing overall relations, but nothing is guaranteed.
    Raul Castro, who took over from his ailing brother in 2008, said completely normal relations with the United States would be impossible as long as Washington maintains its economic embargo against the island.
    "The future is uncertain, I can't call it, but if other countries keep coming here to support us, to invest, it is possible that we could have a promising future," said economics student, Yorlan Cruz, remaining optimistic.
    For Cuban singer Laritza Bacallao, it is precisely the economic sphere in which the Cuban people, and artists in particular stand to benefit.
    "The opening of Cuba to the world involves everything, it is not only for the kids that want internet, but includes commerce too, through which us artists can offer our art to the rest of the world," said Bacallao.
    "I think that everything is going to improve because the U.S. is very close and the relations between the countries should never be interrupted, this will improve commerce and the economy of our land in general," added medical student Sheyla Bornet.
    Obama, a Democrat, has eased parts of the U.S. embargo but would need the Republican-controlled Congress to lift it completely.
    Castro also said normalization would require the return to Cuban sovereignty of the U.S. naval base at Cuba's Guantanamo Bay, although American officials have said Guantanamo is not a topic of discussion in talks with Cuba.
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