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The event was at times a jarring juxtaposition of diplomatic formality and public jousting, as questions from American reporters sparked abrupt reactions from Castro, who either ignored them or dismissed them as misguided, challenging one reporter to “give me names” of alleged political prisoners here.
For his part, Obama seemed to relish the opportunity to display his comfort in discussing both the things they agreed on, and those they did not. The public exchange was virtually unprecedented in Cuba.
Appearing together after a closed-door meeting on the first full day of Obama’s historic visit to Cuba, the two leaders began with magnanimous opening statements. Their work together “benefits not only Cuba and the United States, but the entire hemisphere,” Castro said in an opening statement.
Obama responded that “it’s fair to say that the United States and Cuba are now engaged across more areas than at any time in my lifetime.” Quoting Castro’s own words, he acknowledged that “the road ahead will not be easy. Fortunately, we don’t have to swim with sharks to achieve the goals that you and I have set forth.”
But their differences were clear. Obama said he had spoken “frankly” to Castro about human rights, free expression and democracy in their two-hour meeting before they emerged to make public statements. “Our starting point is that we have two very different systems . . . and decades of profound disagreement.” While the United States would continue to speak its mind, he said, it would not seek to impose its system on Cuba.
Castro called on the United States to abandon the territory it occupies with a military base at Guantánamo Bay, on Cuba’s southwestern tip, and to lift the U.S. embargo against Cuba. He said relations would never be fully normal until both were accomplished.
“We recognize the position President Obama is in, and the position his government holds against the blockade,” as Cuba calls the embargo, “and that they have called on Congress to lift it.”
At the same time, he said, the two countries have “profound differences that will not disappear overnight over our political model, democracy, human rights, social justice, international relations, peace and stability.”
In what appeared to be an angry response to a question about political prisoners here, posed by CNN correspondent Jim Acosta, whose father emigrated from Cuba, Castro said, “If there are political prisoners, give me a list, right now. What political prisoners?”
“Give me their names, and if there are political prisoners, they will be free by tonight,” he added.
While human rights activists say several dozen people are being held in Cuban prisons for political offenses, Cuba maintains that those said to be political prisoners have been convicted of common crimes.
The issue of whether the Cubans would allow questions at the Castro-Obama joint appearance — U.S. officials said no agreement was reached on the matter beforehand — was left open until the last minute. Castro told reporters he had agreed that Obama could take two questions, and he would take one.
The exchanges highlighted Obama’s comfort in responding to critical media questions, and Castro’s clear discomfort. After Obama finished a lengthy response to a question to both, he turned to Castro, who had taken off his earphones for translation and was talking to an aide.
Obama winked at the audience and gestured to the Cuban leader. “Sounded like a question to you?” Obama said. He reminded Castro that he had been asked whether he would vote for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. “I can’t vote in the United States,” Castro responded abruptly.
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