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The Wall Street Journal.

President Lifts Embargo on Cuba Aim to Restore Diplomatic Relations after 51 Years

By Keith A. Rakes

Feb. 19, 2014

U.S. President Henry Matai announced in a rose garden address at the White House, that he will

be lifting all sanctions against Cuba, and restore diplomatic ties to the communist country. The

embargo that was issued against Cuba in 1962 following the Cuban Missile Crisis is a drastic

change between the two countries. This course of action will take about five years to complete.

Mr. Matai stated that the idea of ending the embargo came about while both he and Cuban

president Raul Castro meet briefly at the Olympics. After many discussions following their

encounter, they agreed to terms and end one of the last remaining symbols of the Cold War.

“Now a move like this could never happen unless both countries were willing to bury the hatchet

and end all bad blood between them,” Mr. Matai said on a warm, sunny day outside the White

House. “I say on no uncertain terms that Cuba has agreed to provide for policies that ensure

beyond a shadow of a doubt their commitment towards the American people and their own

people as well.”

The Matai administration announced that there’s a three part plan to ease Cuba into the global

community, and make it full fledgling democracy. As long as the Cuban government fulfils its

promises made to Mr. Matai, it should be successful.

Cuba announced the following changes:

1. Legalization of private businesses beginning in Dec., 2015.

2. Legalization of opposition parties beginning Dec., 2015.

3. Elections of the Cuban Parliament, National Assembly in Nov., 2016, and a presidential

election in Nov., 2017.

4. A return of property to U.S. companies and individuals seized after the Cuban Revolution

of 1959, or financial restitution to if it is not feasible.

The president’s plan includes:

1. A gradual lifting of all trade and travel restrictions against Cuba.

2. Encourage and support a free marketplace of ideas within Cuba. A phase considered

“highly critical” by the administration.

3. Strategic plan to integrate Cuba into the global economy as a free, democratic state.

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“This is wonderful news for America, but the people who have truly won today are the Cuban

people,” Mr. Matai said, “Soon they will harness their own destiny, and I can’t wait to see where

it takes them.”

During questioning, Mr. Matai pointed out that, in light of a mediate economic impact, the first

thing that will be noticed is an upswing in tourism in Cuba. Just recently, Cuba has awarded

privatized hotel operations to individual, and now having sanctions being gradually lifted, this

should improve Cuba’s economy. Yet, Mr. Matai put everything on the Cuban government to

follow the plan set forth by the agreement.

Mr. Matai’s Press Secretary went a little more in depth in that “immigration will be smoother for

Cubans immigrating to the U.S.” Additionally, Cuba declined to release American Alan Gross,

something that the administration was disappointed in, but did accept, and will not hinder

diplomatic relations between the two countries. Yet Mr. Matai’s administration did not iterate on

potential impact of the U.S. lifting the embargo and Cuba’s shift to democracy.

The president failed in assessing the reactions of the Cuban exile community in Miami, FL.,

Cuba’s concerns on Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, the UN and IMF reaction, and any negative

reaction from countries in Latin America. According to the CIA’s The World Factbook, Cuba’s

GDP is estimated at $121 billion and ranked 68th

in the world, and even though it is certain that

their economy will drastically improve, how much so remains unknown. What is certain is that

the embargo against Cuba is being lifted, and hopefully, the world will be ready for a new,

democratic Cuba.