Diplomatic relations restored US-Cuba

OUR CONGRATULATIONS
 PRESIDENTS
  Barack Obama
  President Raoul Castro
and POPE Pope Francisco
A historical fact for humanity

(Reuters) - The United States and Cuba agreed on Wednesday

 to restore diplomatic ties that Washington severed more than

 50 years ago, and President Barack Obama called for an end t

o the long economic embargo against its old Cold War enemy.

After 18 months of secret talks, Obama and Cuban

 President Raul Castro agreed in a phone call on Tuesday

 on a breakthrough prisoner exchange, the opening of embassies

in each other's countries, and an easing of some restrictions on commerce.

The two leaders made the announcement in simultaneous

televised speeches. The Vatican and Canada facilitated the deal.

Obama's call for an end to the economic embargo drew resistance

 from Republicans who will control both houses of Congress

 from January and who oppose normal relations with the 

communist-run island.

Obama said he was ending what he called a rigid and outdated

 policy of isolating Cuba that had failed to achieve change on the island.

His administration's policy shift includes an opening to more commerce

 in some areas, allowing use of U.S. credit and debit cards, increasing

 the amount of money that can be sent to Cubans and allowing

 export of telecommunications devices and services.

RESTRICTIONS REMAIN

Travel restrictions that make it hard for most Americans to visit will 

be eased, but the door will not yet be open for broad U.S. tourism on

 the Caribbean island.

His announcement also will not end the U.S. trade embargo that has

 been in force for more than 50 years. That is codified in legislation

 and needs congressional approval. Obama said he would seek that

 approval but will likely face a struggle.

Obama said the opening was made possible by Havana's release of

 American Alan Gross, 65, who had been imprisoned in Cubafor five years.

 Gross' case had been a major obstacle to improving relations.

Cuba is also releasing an intelligence agent who spied for the United

 States and was held for nearly 20 years, and the United States in

 return freed three Cuban intelligence agents held in the United States.