A Caribbean victory for diplomacy
The announcement last week by President Barack Obama that the United States and Cuba would reestablish diplomatic relations is a startling but welcome breath of fresh air in the stalest of international stalemates. Right after the media reported the mutual release of prisoners, including US Agency for International Development subcontractor Alan Gross and the three remaining members of the "Cuban Five", Obama announced that mutual embassies would soon be established.
The US president said Washington would also loosen restrictions on travel, remittances, banking and trade, and American travelers could now bring back Cuban cigars from the Caribbean country.
Cuban Americans will now be able to see their families more often and send them higher remittances - from $500 to $2,000 every three months. And all sorts of US citizens, from students to religious groups, will be able to travel to Cuba more easily.
