Obama, seeing Castro only the third time in a formal setting, was the first president of the United States in Cuba since 1928.
Cuban President Raul Castro shakes hands with Barack Obama during a meeting in the Revolution Palace.
Havana: Brushing decades of distrust,
President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro shook hands Monday at
the Palace of the Revolution in Havana, opening a meeting to carry forward the
diplomatic opening that the two leaders they have pursued.
Obama and Castro remained
together as a Cuban military band played the national anthems of Cuba and the
United States - sounds impressive in a country where resistance to the US It
has been part of the national mission of government for decades. Obama and
senior officials of the United States gave a warm welcome to their Cuban
counterparts before the two presidents sat down for their meeting.
For Obama, there is no better
place than Havana to show that the commitment can do more than the isolation to
achieve a change in the communist island. However, for Cubans, the obvious
question is whether their government is ready to test the ambitious diplomatic
opening is more than just talk.
Obama opened his first full day
in Cuba by setting a wreath at the monument to José Martí, where a statue of 59
feet pays tribute to Cuban independence hero and writer. Then he entered the
Palace of the Revolution, where he was received by Castro before two military
inspected a guard of honor.
Obama also plans an event on
Monday with US and Cuban businessmen for defense emerging private sector in
Cuba. He was to be feted at night at a state dinner, an honor that illustrates
how US and Cuba have come despite their deep ideological differences.
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