An historic opportunity for dialogue between the two countries. With these words Barack Obama commented about his trip to Cuba, the first by a US president from 1928 to today: “For the first time in history – declared Obama -, the Air Force One plane landed here. It is a historic opportunity to forge new trade agreements, build new ties between our two peoples, and for me to illustrate my vision of a future brighter than our past."
The US president, accompanied by his wife Michelle and their daughters Malia and Sasha, was welcomed by Foreign Minister Rodriguez, and not by President Raul Castro, even if a meeting between the two is scheduled for today.
Obama's arrival was preceded by a wave of arrests of female dissidents from the Damas de Blanco group, who were detained during a protest march outside the Santa Rita church. Also arrested was dissident Elizardo Sanchez, who is expected to go to the American embassy tomorrow to meet the president.
