Cuba marked the anniversary of Fidel Castro's first armed uprising 62 years ago Sunday with calls for an end to the US embargo and the return of the US naval base at Guantanamo.
The ceremony -- attended by Cuban president Raul Castro and some 10,000 of the country's ruling elite and their guests but not by the frail 88-year-old Fidel -- was the first since the restoration of relations with the United States.
"Now begins a long and complex road toward the normalization of bilateral relations, which includes, among other things, the end of the blockade and the return of the Guantanamo naval base," said Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, the number two of Cuba's communist party.
Machado's brief speech contrasted with the hours long anti-American orations Fidel was known for, particularly on the July 26, 3 anniversary of the assault he led on the Moncada Barracks in Santiago.
Although a military failure that landed Castro in prison, the uprising is considered the start of a revolutionary movement that ultimately ousted the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in 1959.
Fidel stepped down as the country's president in 2006 in poor health, and has watched with some skepticism as his brother and successor Raul has gradually opened the Soviet-style economy to private enterprise and outside investments.
On December 17, Raul and US President Barack Obama stunned the world by announcing plans to restore relations severed for more than half a century. On July 20, the longtime Cold War foes reopened embassies in each other's countries.
A US trade embargo remains in effect, however, with opposition to lifting it strong in the Republican-dominated US Congress.
The US naval base at Guantanamo on the southeastern tip of Cuba is now best know for a US prison holding suspected al-Qaeda and Taliban militants that Obama has so far unsuccessfully sought to close.
GMT 05:20 2017 Sunday ,03 December
Saudi tourism body to award museum, heritage contracts worth SR1.2 billionGMT 12:48 2017 Saturday ,02 December
Multimillion-riyal Qassim Museum to showcase rich Saudi heritageGMT 17:21 2017 Thursday ,23 November
David Cassidy, 1970s heartthrob, dies at 67GMT 06:31 2017 Sunday ,19 November
Casablanca’s Hassan II Mosque: the ‘World’s Most Beautiful Religious Building’GMT 10:14 2017 Saturday ,18 November
King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture ITHRA scouting for next gen contemporary artistsGMT 10:02 2017 Saturday ,18 November
Lebanese pianist Michel Fadel regales Jeddah music loversGMT 12:31 2017 Friday ,17 November
Misk Foundation and Virgin Hyperloop One sign major dealMisk Foundation and Virgin Hyperloop One sign major dealGMT 07:36 2017 Friday ,17 November
Da Vinci portrait of Christ sells for record $450.3 million in New YorkMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©