Japan Press Weekly

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2015 April 8 - 14 [WORLD]

‘New relations’ with Cuba will depend on US efforts

Akahata ‘current’ column

America’s anti-Cuba policy, which started with the Cold War, is coming to an end. Seeking to normalize relations, the two countries have started dialogue and finally the two top leaders on April 11 held face-to-face talks. In the meeting, U.S. President Barack Obama stated, “Cuba is not a threat to the United States.”

The United States has not hesitated to use military force against countries that the U.S. labeled as a threat to democracy under the pretext of protecting peace. International political scientists call it “the paradox of democracy”.

Former Cuban citizens, who moved to America after the Cuban Revolution, have been supporting America’s hardline policies against their homeland. However, a recent opinion poll shows that more than half of the respondents are in favor of normalization of diplomatic relations. A Cuban-American was quoted in a U.S. media report as saying, “My wife is also Cuban-born. We have two children who have never been to Cuba. We have four grandchildren who we would like to see Cuba. The time has come.”

Cuban President Raul Castro at the talks noted that the two parties have differences in ideas but should respect each other. Nonintervention in the internal affairs of other countries and sovereign equality are principles of the UN Convention. The realization of what President Obama calls a “new relationship” largely depends on how the U.S. will behave.


Past related article:
> Start of dialogues for normalizing US-Cuba relations is welcome advance [December 19, 2014]