Cubans Highlight Opportunities and Challenges of Obama Visit

Cubans from different walks of life highlight today the opportunities of mutual benefit and challenges presented by the visit here from March 20 to 22 of U.S. President, Barack Obama. I hope the visit of Obama is an important step in the long way forward to the complete normalization of bilateral relations, for the benefit of both peoples and peace in the region, affirmed the director of the National Museum of Natural History of Cuba, Esther Perez.

Interviewed by Granma -Cuban main newspaper- Perez dealt in-depth about the opportunities of exchange opening with U.S. scientific institutions in the context of the new scenario presented in the process of normalization of links started on December 17, 2014.

Also, the member of the Cuban national baseball team, Frank Camilo Morejon said "this visit should serve to tighten cooperation relations and that it is a step forward for Cuban society and also for the government of the United States, because it will be able to confirm the island has never been a threat to the U.S. people".

I also hope this to be a door to the lifting of the U.S. economic blockade imposed for more than half a century on Cuba and it expands exchange in the sectors of health, education, culture and all areas of society, including sports, added the catcher of the national selection and the Industriales team of this capital.

For his part, farmer of central city of Placetas, Orelvis Peñate mentioned the economic opportunities of mutual benefit that could be boosted in this new chapter of relations between both countries.

Cuba could access the U.S. market and at the same time, U.S. citizens could buy products here of high demand as tobacco, rum, fresh fruits and other things of high quality. Also he mentioned our beaches and so many natural beauties we have here, he added.

On the other hand, the President of the Marti Youth Movement, Yusuam Palacio, assured that with this visit, Obama´s will, as much as it is possible and the time does no trun short, to really know the Cuban people, see the real image of Cuba without manipulation and distortion as it is frequently done".

On her part, professor of a pre-university school, Eugenia Palomares, said that despite "we Cubans in this new stage are conscious methods have changed, but not the objective of overthrowing the Revolution".

In that regard, the doctor in Historical Science, Elier Ramirez Cañedo recalled that Obama takes the road laid before by the Jimmy Carter´s administration and leads it farther on.

It means a deep tactical adjustment although there is no change in the strategic objectives of change of regime, as a result of the historic resistance of the Cuban peopled to the most diverse variants of the aggressive U.S. policy and the united support of the Latin American and Caribbean region, he asserted.