Obama eases curbs on traveling to Cuba
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AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 15, 2009 00:00
MIAMI - Delsa Bernardo was ready to pop rolls in the oven at Yiya's Gourmet Cuban Bakery when she heard the news: After years of separation, she could finally visit her 80-year-old aunt in Cuba, any time she wanted.
Like many Cuban-Americans, Bernardo celebrated Barack Obama's decision Monday to break from a half-century of U.S. policy toward the island nation and lift restrictions on visiting relatives there and sending money to them. In a further sign of openness, the White House announced it would allow U.S. firms to seek telecommunications business there.
"This is fantastic for me. I can actually go see my father's sister. She's my last living relative there," said Bernardo, 47, who came to the U.S. when she was 5 and has never been back. Although the change is measured - travel is still limited for other Americans and a wide-reaching trade embargo remains in place - the White House portrayed the move as a path to promoting personal freedom in Cuba. Across Florida and New Jersey, home to the nation's largest Cuban exile communities, news of the changes traveled fast.
"So many people have been calling," said Ofelia Gutierrez, a Cuban immigrant and the manager of Costamar Travel in Union City, New Jersey. "They are really excited about it, asking 'Is it true we can go?"'
US must go further, says Fidel
Obama's actions were met with a tepid response in Havana's halls of government, with Cuba's long-time former leader Fidel Castro declaring his country was not looking for "charity," but instead an end to the embargo.
The ailing former president wrote in an online column that the U.S. had announced the repeal of "several hateful restrictions," but had stopped short of real change. "Of the blockade, which is the cruelest of measures, not a word was uttered," he wrote. Castro noted that several U.S. senators favor lifting the trade embargo and urged Obama to seize the opportunity.
"This is fantastic for me. I can actually go see my father's sister. She's my last living relative there," said Bernardo, 47, who came to the U.S. when she was 5 and has never been back. Although the change is measured - travel is still limited for other Americans and a wide-reaching trade embargo remains in place - the White House portrayed the move as a path to promoting personal freedom in Cuba. Across Florida and New Jersey, home to the nation's largest Cuban exile communities, news of the changes traveled fast.
"So many people have been calling," said Ofelia Gutierrez, a Cuban immigrant and the manager of Costamar Travel in Union City, New Jersey. "They are really excited about it, asking 'Is it true we can go?"'
US must go further, says Fidel
Obama's actions were met with a tepid response in Havana's halls of government, with Cuba's long-time former leader Fidel Castro declaring his country was not looking for "charity," but instead an end to the embargo.
The ailing former president wrote in an online column that the U.S. had announced the repeal of "several hateful restrictions," but had stopped short of real change. "Of the blockade, which is the cruelest of measures, not a word was uttered," he wrote. Castro noted that several U.S. senators favor lifting the trade embargo and urged Obama to seize the opportunity.