US, Cuba to reopen Embassies

(Vatican Radio)  After a hostile Cold War lasting 54 years, Cuba and the United States  announced on Wednesday they are reopening embassies in each others' Capitols, restoring full diplomatic relations on July 20th. 

Listen to the report by James Blears:

 
 
The Cuban Revolution and the Cuban Missile Crisis, spotlighted  the rupture of ideologies and an antagonistic estrangement which has been going on since 1961.  The real breakthrough came this April at the Summit of the Americas in Panama, when Presidents Raul Castro and Barack Obama sat down and talked face to face, man to man.

In a broadcast to Cuba seen by Cubans on their televison system,  President Obama didn't attempt to paper over past and present fissures in bi-lateral relations, but conceded the US policy isn't working.

The next step is to lift the US total trade embargo, which has been snapping and biting at Cuba's economic heels since 1962, and to completely scrap US travel restrictions to Cuba.

Both nations have had diplomatic missions called 'Interests Sections' in the other's country since the mid 1970's, but this latest development is politically significant enough to be termed a major breakthrough.