Sure to take time but will benefit the people in both cuba and the United States. This shared result to look ahead is what drove our conversation today and what has brought us to this moment. We touched on a wide range of issues of module concern, and mutual concern including counter narcotics, telecommunications, the internet them a environmental issues, human rights, including trafficking and in persons and we discussed the opening of our embassies. We want to make sure that those embassies are able to function fully and i am confident the diplomats from both countries will have the freedom to travel and to converse with citizens from all walks of life. To help lead that effort, i am encouraged that we have a first rate embassy team in cuba led by our ambassador who is one of our widest and most experienced public servants. I congratulate foreign minister rodriguez on his this mornings opening of the embassy in washington. I look forward to making my first trip to cuba and holding a comparable ceremony at our embassy in havana. Before closing, i want to thank our colleagues from switzerland for the vital role they have played for many years as the protecting power for what has obviously proven to be a much longer time than originally anticipated. I think our friends around the hemisphere who have urged us, in some cases for decades, to restore our diplomatic ties and have warmly welcomed our decision to do so. Im grateful for the outstanding leadership of assistant secretary Roberta Jacobson and the many representatives whose hard work made this day possible. I want to acknowledge the commitment of all who care about u. S. Cuba relations, whether they agree with the decision to normalize her, change is really easy especially when earlier positions have been so deeply ingrained and so profoundly felt. But although we can and must learn from the past, nothing is more futile than trying to live in the past. President obama believes and so do i that our citizens benefit far more from policies that aim to shape a better future. There is, after all my nothing to be lost and much to be gained by encouraging travel between our nations, the free flow of information and ideas, the resumption of commerce, and the removal of obstacles that had made it harder for families to visit their loved ones. Make the mistake, the process of fully normalizing relations between the u. S. And cuba will go on. It may be long and complex. But along the way, we are sure to encounter a bump here and there and moments even of frustration. Patients will be required. But that is all the more reason to get started now on this journey. This longoverdue journey. Today with the opening of our embassies and the visit of the foreign minister, we are taking an historic and law over longoverdue step in the right direction. To keep moving forward both governments must proceed in a spirit of openness and Mutual Respect. I can assure the world including the people of cuba, that the United States will do its part. [speaking spanish] and now it is my pleasure to yield the floor to our guest foreign minister bruno rodriguez. Foreign minister rodriguez we have had a meeting with secretary john kerry. The current status of the bilateral relations and the progress achieved since the announcements of december 17 2014 including the removal of cuba from the list of states sponsoring terrorism. And the reestablishment of diplomatic relations. I convey the recognition of our people for his determination to work for [inaudible] and for his willingness to adopt executive measures that modify the of limitation of this implementation of this policy. Antime that the president of the United States can continue using his executive powers to pay a significant contribution to the dismantling and not to pursue changes in cuba something that falls under our exclusive sovereignty and attends to the interest of u. S. Citizens. I emphasize that totally lifting, the return of the legally occupied territory of guantanamo and the full respect of cuban sovereignty and the compensation to our people for human and economic damages are crucial to be able to move forward in the normalization of relations. We both ratified our interest in normalizing relations knowing that this would be a long and complex process which will require the willingness of both countries. There are profound differences between cuba and the United States with regard to our views about the exercise of human rights by all persons all over the world and issues related to International Law which will inevitably persist. But we strongly believe we can both cooperate and coexist in a civilized way based on the respect for these differences and the development of a constructive dialogue oriented to a wellbeing of our countries and peoples and this continent and the entire world. I expressed to the secretary of state that he will be welcomed in cuba on the occasion of the ceremony to reopen the u. S. Embassy in havana. So, mr. Secretary, i will be waiting for you. [speaking spanish] translator we have just had a respectful and construct of eating with secretary john kerry. It was interesting to see that the cuban flag was raised for the first time in years. We would not have been able to make it through these date without the historical leadership of the revolution headed by fidel castro and without the resistance and selfdetermination of the cuban people and the Firm Determination to continue walking down the path that was sovereignly chose him. We have been able to make it with the support received from latin america, the caribbean the majority of countries around the world, u. S. And cuban patriotic citizens to reside in this country and who persevered for so many years in their efforts so that cuba and the United States could have better relations. With the secretary of state, we have an exchange of issues from president raul castro and president barack obama during their time together in panama at the conference of the americas. Including cuba removal from the list of states state sponsors of terrorism. A place where cuba should have never been included, and the historic meeting between president role castro and barack obama on issues of common interest. I can take the recognition of our people to president obama for his determination to lift the blockade and having urged congress to eliminate it once and for all and his willingness to adopt executive measures that modify the implementation of some aspect of these policies. Although the scope is limited, these are steps taken in the right direction. We both emphasize the president of the u. S. Can continue to use executive powers to pay a significant contribution to the blockade with the purpose of eliminating it. Not seeking changes in cuba which fall under the assumed sovereignty of the department of cuba and cubans, but rather to attend to the best interest of americans and the lifting of the arcade is essential for moving on stabilizations of i laterally i laterally relations. As well as the full respect of cuban sovereignty and the compensation to our people for human and economic damages. We reiterated our invitation to all u. S. Citizens to exercise their right to travel to cuba as they do to the rest of the world and to take advantage of an equal footing of the opportunities offered by cuba. The secretary of state and i ratified our interest in normalizing bilateral relations knowing this will be a long and complex process. I reiterated to the secretary of state the cuban governments willing to move on in the process toward normalizations with relations on the basis of respect and sovereign equality and without any interference in our internal affairs. It is true there are profound differences between the governments of cuba and the United States with regards to our views about the exercise of human rights by all citizens and in the whole planet and also when it comes to International Law, which will inevitably persist. But we strongly believe we can cooperate and coexist in a civilized way based on the respect for these differences and the development of a constructive dialogue to the wellbeing of our countries and people and the entire world. I express to the secretary of state that he will be welcoming that she will be welcome in havana on the occasion to celebrate the opening of the u. S. Embassy. So i will be waiting for you and i thank you for your hospitality in washington. Thank you. Our first question comes from Andrea Mitchell at nbc. Mr. Foreign minister, mr. Secretary, the foreign minister said today at the opening of the embassy that the continuing hold on Guantanamo Bay on the naval base is in the various consequence of u. S. Attempts to dominate hemisphere and only the lifting of the trade embargo and the return of Guantanamo Bay would lend meaning to todays historic events. Can you respond to those comments and what they foreign minister just said come which seems to indicate does of the preconditions and he did not want any interference by the United States in the domestic policies of cuba. And what would you like to see in terms of human rights changes or other policy changes, even absent those changes which are congressionally mandated . Mr. Foreign minister, welcome to the United States and welcome to the state department. For all of us who have watched the relationship for so many years, this is truly an historic event. But you seem to be indicating that there are preconditions including the lifting of the trade them are go and the return of guantanamo. Do you see any other changes cuba might be willing to afford under the request or influence of the u. S. Prior to those events taking place . Thank you. Mr. Kerry ill go first. It is absolutely knows the price because it has been a subject of discussion over the course of the time we have been examining our relationship and working toward today that there are things cuba would like to see happen, there are things the United States would like to see happen. We both have been Crystal Clear with the with each other, there has been no pulling of punches. That is one of the reasons we told up and ability to be able to get to this moment. With respect to the embargo, president obama could not have been more clear the president has called on congress to lift the embargo. It is our hope that over the course of the development of the relationship in these next weeks and months and years, and hopefully not too many years people will see the benefits that are emerging in both countries as a result of this change today. We would hope, obviously, that the embargo at the appropriate time will be lifted and a great deal more foundation can be built for this relationship. With respect and obviously, that is going to take more time. We all understand that. At this time, there is no discussion and it tension on our part at this moment do alter the existing lease treaty or other arrangements with respect to the naval station, but we understand cuba has strong feelings about it. I cannot tell you what the future will bring, but for the moment, that is not part of the discussion on our side. On the other hand, both sides have fairly have very strong feelings. We will always express because it is part of the United StatesForeign Policy as part of our dna, and that is our view of human rights and our thoughts about it. We have shared good thoughts about it and have had good exchanges. Part of this arrangement that took place involved an exchange of people as well as the release of some people. Our hope is that as time goes on, we will continue to develop that. What we did talk about the relationship and through a creation of a Bilateral Committee that might Work Together to put focus on these issues so that we can make the most out of this moment and not lose the future with respect to the embargo and other issues. We are going to work at that. Today is the beginning of a constructive effort and that is the way we want to keep it. Translator we have completed the exchanges to reestablish diplomatic relations as we open the embassy. We have managed to achieve something very important in the last few years and the u. S. Government has recognized the embargo against cuba is the wrong policy, causing isolation and bringing about humanitarian damages and deprivation to our people and has committed to engage congress in a debate with the purpose of lifting the blockade. Second, the president of the u. S. Has adopted some executive measures which are limited in scope, but which are headed in the right direction. I have had an exchange with secretary kerry with regard to the purposes for the following time for the normalization of bilateral relations. We have not spoken about conditions, but rather the need to move on through the dialogue through sovereign equality and each will respect and create a civilized behavior despite the profound differences that exist between both governments to better attend to the interests of our respective people. To me, it is very important the fact that today, and embassy was reopened in washington and the diplomatic and chairman could be created to carry full mutual recognition, which is a practical contribution to the development of i lateral dialogue. To cuba, the normalization of principles through a series of attending problems. Among them is the cease of the blockade against cuba, the return of the territory of guantanamo, and the full respect for our country. We have confirmed there are conditions so that a dialogue can be expanded with the purpose of expanding mutually beneficial cooperation between both countries and of course, taking into account the fact the situation between the u. S. And cuba is asymmetric because our country has not implemented any policy against american citizens or enterprises. Cuba does not implement any unilateral course against u. S. And cuba does not occupy any piece of u. S. Territory. We are looking at the proper conditions to move toward the normalization of relations. I can say i have been lease with the exchange with secretary kerry and as to the announcement of december 17, we have been able to establish diplomatic relations, we have been able to reopen the embassy, and now i have the opportunity to welcome secretary kerry to havana for the opening of the u. S. Embassy there in the next two weeks. Thank you very much. I would like to know what are the advantages that are now in place if the blockade is still in place and what are the advantages now that we have an embassy. And secretary of state john kerry, the government of cuba has said several times in the past that american diplomats in havana have violated the conventions on relations with cuba. Is it going to be like that in the future . Translator the fact that diplomatic relations have in established shows the initial willingness to move on toward the improvement of relations between our countries. New instruments are created to further deepen this dialogue under the circumstances i have described. During the process of our previous conversation, the historic letters exchanged between president role khosrow role castro and barack obama function for the omatic missions for the purposes and principles in the u. N. Charter of International Law. The regulations containing the conventions on omatic and popular relations, therefore we have reached agreement in these areas and i can say cuba would absolutely respect those provisions. Cuban diplomats will strictly abide by those rules and create in cuba every necessary condition for the functioning of the new u. S. Embassy in our country. Mr. Kerry let me reinforce what renault has said. Part of the negotiations leading up to the opening of the embassies was a matter of coming to agreement with respect to all the diplomatic functions. We spend Time Assistant secretary jacobson was negotiating with her counterpart and the Prime Minister and i then met and signed off on an agreement which is in accord with the vienna conventions and meets both of our countries understandings of what is needed at this moment in time. It could be subject to change, but we are satisfied and we are living within the traction within the structure of the vienna conventions. Good afternoon. Welcome foreign minister rodriguez. In your discussions today, did you establish any sort of roadmap for talks Going Forward . If so, what are your priorities . Opening like greater freedom of speech and assembly and the legalization of opposition parties . And, secretary kerry, if i could ask you about iran nuclear, the u. N. Security Council Voted and critics are saying of the nuclear deal that this vote will lock them in because it has taken place before congress has had the opportunity to debate the deal. What is your response to this criticism . Mr. Kerry let me remind you that in the case twice of going to war in previous administrations, the un security Council Voted before the congress. But more importantly, in this particular case, with respect to this agreement, we took pains to protect the prerogatives of congress. We got our colleagues in sovereign countries who had no obligation to the congress to agree to accept 90 days of no implementation of the resolution they voted on today. It is all well and good for congress to interact with the executive department and require us to do things, but frankly some of these other countries were resistant to the idea as sovereign nations that they are subject to the u. S. Congress. We did so in a way that fully protects the prerogative of the United States congress to review this for the next 60 days. We put a 90 day time frame in during which there will be no implementation. Knowability of the congress has been impinged on. The rights of the congress to make its valuation have not changed. On the other hand, when you are negotiating with six other countries, it does require obviously, a measure of sensitivity and multilateral cooperation that has to take into account other nations desires at the same time. They were insistent the vote take place because they were negotiating under the umbrella of the United Nations and they thought it was a row. When they completed their work fo