U.S. President Obama arrives in Cuba (AFP Image)
Havana (IINA) – US President Barack Obama arrived on Sunday in Havana, on a historic visit to Cuba.
AFP reported that Obama cheerfully began the three-day trip, the first by a U.S. president in 88 years, by tweeting in local slang: "Que bola Cuba?" – or "What's up?"
Obama's trip will focus on deepening long-neglected commercial ties between the U.S. and Cuba, but also drawing a harder line on human rights abuses by the Castro government. Just hours before his arrival, Cuban authorities arrested more than 50 human rights activists protest outside Havana, USA TODAY reported.
First, Obama headed to a Havana hotel, where he met with American diplomats, at the newly reopened embassy, who have been working to normalize relations with Cuba since Pope Francis mediated a thawing of U.S.-Cuban relations in 2014.
"Having a U.S. embassy means we're more effectively able to advance our values, our interests and understand more effectively the Cuban people's concerns," Obama told them. "This is a historic visit and a historic opportunity."
Obama is scheduled to meet on Monday with Cuban President Raul Castro, the brother of the retired revolutionary leader Fidel Castro.
AB/IINA
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