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U.S. Embassy Reopens in Cuba. Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired August 14, 2015 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[10:00:05] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me. I want to take you right out to Havana, Cuba where we're awaiting the U.S. secretary of state to raise the American flag over the U.S. embassy in Havana. Something that has not happened since 1961. Secretary of State John Kerry has touched down on this island nation. And that in itself is history because no American official has done that in more than 50 years.

Let's head to Havana now and check in with Jake Tapper.

Good morning, Jake.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Carol. That's right. It was 1945 that the last U.S. secretary of date was in Havana, Cuba. And as you noted it was January, 1961 when then President Dwight Eisenhower alarmed by Cuba's -- the revolution, by the Castro -- by Fidel Castro taking power, by the alliance with the USSR, that Ike Eisenhower ended diplomatic relations.

And in fact the three U.S. Marines who were there that day, who took the flag down from the U.S. embassy, they're going to be here today, Larry Morris, Mike East and Jim Tracy. Those three Marines will be here for the ceremony.

Let me just tell you what we're expecting to see at the beginning of the ceremony with the U.S. embassy opening for the first time officially since 1961. It has been used since 1977 as an intersection which is what you have in a country that you don't have formal diplomatic relations with. But the first time since 1961 we're going to have the man who will be the chief of the mission and if the Senate ever confirms him as ambassador, Mr. DeLaurentis, he will be the ambassador, Jeff DeLaurentis.

Then we'll have Richard Blanco speaking. He's the poet whose mother fled Havana when he was still in utero. He was the one who delivered the poem, the inaugural poem in January 2013. So it's going to be very interesting to hear what he has to say. A lot of hope and I'm sure a lot of ambivalence as well, given the fact that his mother fled this country. Then Secretary Kerry will speak. We'll hear two anthems, the American anthem, the United States anthem, and of course the Cuban anthem and then the flag will be raised.

CNN's Elise Labott joins me now. We also have CNN's Patrick Oppmann and CNN's Fareed Zakaria on hand.

But, Elise, let me start with you. You were on the plane coming down with the congressional delegation, only one of whom I believe is a Republican, Senator Jeff Flake from Arizona. Tell us about the mood of the members of Congress and if you have any special perspective on Jeff Flake being the only Republican there. What did he have to say?

ELISE LABOTT, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS REPORTER: Well, you know, Jeff Flake has been one of the main proponents of this opening with Cuba. He's been fighting for years to get the embargo down, he called it. He's been down there several times this year alone. And so there a real --

TAPPER: Down here?

LABOTT: Down here in Havana.

TAPPER: Down here now.

(LAUGHTER)

TAPPER: Down here. Yes.

LABOTT: So there's here -- so there's a lot of excitement by these senators and congressmen who have worked very hard. Jeff Flake one of them, and also Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont. Really one of the biggest drivers of this opening with Cuba. He was instrumental in negotiating with the Cubans for the release of Alan Gross. He flew down to take Alan Gross back here. He's here with his wife, Marcelle.

There was a lot of excitement getting on the plane. They were there for their 30th anniversary here in Havana. And so it's also very close relationship between Patrick Leahy and Fidel Castro. So all of these congressmen saying they know there are going to be hiccups along the way, same thing as Secretary Kerry said. But it's an important first start and it's important to keep pushing. We know that that embargo was one of the main proponents, one of the main obstacles to normalizing ties. But they are really pushing the administration to do as much as they can.

TAPPER: And keep this mind, obviously those pushing for diplomatic relations while not a non-controversial policy, their position is -- that this will help the Cuban people ultimately.

Patrick Oppmann is down there in the crowd. Patrick, what are you seeing?

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Jake. And there's a lot of excitement. It's about 10 deep. The people continue to come despite the fierce Cuban sun that's burning down on us. And to give a little perspective here, I'm joined by a woman, Marisol, who lives very close to here. And she's been coming here for years to protests against the -- against what they call imperialism here.

She's talking about weeks of protests, the Elian Gonzalez case, which she's very happy to be here this morning to celebrate what they're calling a new chapter, a new beginning with the United States. You're seeing American flags. Just as many American flags as Cuban flags. It's something I've never seen here in my years of living here. And, you know, when I first moved here about four years, very few

Americans that you encountered in the streets. It was really something of a rarity. That's really changed a lot as the diplomatic relations have progressed. And one of the Americans who is here this morning, this is Amanda Blasik (ph). Step right here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi.

[10:05:02] OPPMANN: A junior, rising junior in Northwestern University, you've been studying here all summer. Why come here this morning to be in front of the U.S. embassy for this historic day?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, we're very excited to be here. We've been hearing a lot about this all summer. We've been studying here for eight weeks. And we're excited to be here for this momentous day. And it's a start of a new chapter with relations between Cuba and the United States.

OPPMANN: Americans coming here always ask me, you know, how do Cubans feel about Americans? What do they think about us? What's been your experience? Have you been welcomed here during your weeks of study?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely. Everyone has been so friendly to us. Clearly there are a lot of people here today and everyone is really excited for this.

OPPMANN: And there is excitement rippling through the crowd. We're not seeing anybody leaving, Jake. It's not like a lot of government events you go where people show up and then go home. There's really interest in seeing Secretary of State Kerry. I think most people in the crowd were born after the Cuban revolution. In fact, most people on this island were born after the Cuban revolution.

They've only ever known leaders named Castro and they've only ever known economic sanctions from the United States. They've never had a high level visit from a U.S. official like this one that's about to happen. And of course they've never seen the American flag rise up over the Cuban capitol which is going to happen very shortly -- Jake.

TAPPER: That's right. Thank you so much, Patrick Oppmann.

This is obviously a very historic day after Secretary of State John Kerry presides over the ceremony, raising the flag here for the first time since 1961. He is going to meet with the Foreign Minister Rodriguez and then later on he'll meet with the cardinal here in Havana who also helped smoothed the way for diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba.

But as we've discussed throughout the hour, this move by the Obama administration is not without its critics. Both people who are more hawkish on U.S.-Cuban policy in the United States as well as members of the dissidents community, human rights activists here, who have been battling with the Castro brothers and their dictatorship for years if not decades.

In Miami, I want to go to Jose Luis Martinez. He's with the Cuban American organization and Jose, I want to ask you your feelings today. I know that you think the Obama administration didn't extract enough concessions from the Cuban government.

I'm told right now that Secretary of State John Kerry is coming out. Let's take a listen and watch this. We'll go back to Jose in a bit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of the United States embassy, Havana, and the assistant secretary of state.

TAPPER: Right now you're looking at U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry as he meets with the three U.S. Marines who took down the U.S. flag in January, 1961. They're names are Larry Morris, Mike East and Jim Tracy. We of course thank them for their service. They are meeting with retired Navy Lieutenant Commander John Kerry, now secretary of state.

Quite a momentous thing to go from taking down the flag to decades later presiding at the ceremony where it's put back up.

We're expecting the ceremony to begin any moment. At first the chief of the U.S. Mission Jeffrey DeLaurentis will speak. He is not the official ambassador until the U.S. Senate confirms him which many members of the U.S. Senate have promised they will not do. Let's listen.

AMB. JEFFREY DELAURENTIS, CHARGE D'AFFAIRES, U.S. EMBASSY IN HAVANA: The United States and Havana.

(APPLAUSE)

DELAURENTIS: Thank you, Secretary Kerry, Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Zukunft, Assistant Secretary Jacobson, and all other executive branch officials as well as members of Congress for being here today.

I wish to welcome Director General Josefina Vidal and the official Cuban delegation and Foreign Minister Burkhalter of Switzerland and his delegation to this historic ceremony. And I wish to give special recognition to the Marines Security Guard Detachment Embassy, Havana, 1961.

(APPLAUSE)

[10:10:31] DELAURENTIS: And Marine Security Guard Detachment Embassy, Havana 2015.

(APPLAUSE)

DELAURENTIS: Many of you worked very hard to make this day happen. I thank all of you here for coming from near and far, and how far we have come. In the few short months since our president's announcement in December, the United States and Cuba have already established diplomatic relations and an important foundation for the future. And of course, there's the added addition of the new sign on this building.

I began my own foreign service career in 1991 in this building when it was called something else. At that time I never imagined I would see our flag raised here 54 years after it was lowered. For our nation's today represents beginning of a new chapter and a key step on the path toward the normalization of relations.

(APPLAUSE)

DELAURENTIS: It is a long complex road to travel, but it is the right road. In many ways no one has travelled greater distances to be here today than poet Richard Blanco. Made in America, assembled in Spain, and imported to the United States, Richard has written an original poem to mark this special occasion.

He is the fifth presidential inaugural poet in U.S. history. President Obama has said, that, quote, "Blanco's contributions to the fields of poetry and the arts have already paved the path forward for future generations of writers," close quotes. Today is about the future. Please join me in welcoming Richard Blanco.

(APPLAUSE)

RICHARD BLANCO, POET: For the people of both our countries who believed that not even the sea could keep us from one another. "Matters of the Sea." The sea doesn't matter, what matters is this. We all belong to the sea between us. All of us. Once and still the same child who marvels over star fish. Listens to hollow shells. Sculpts dreams. Into impossible chasms. We've all been lovers, holding hands. Strolling down either of our shores.

Our footprints like a mirage of cells vanished in waves that don't know their birth or care on which country they break. They break. They bless us and return to the sea. Home to all our silent wishes. No one is the other to the other to the sea whether on hemmed island or vast continent. Remember our grandfathers. Their hands dug deep into red or brown earth. Planting maple or mango trees that outlived them.

Our grandmothers counting years while dusting photos of their wedding days. Those riddled family faces still alive on our dressers now. Our mothers teaching us how to read in Spanish or English. How to tie our shoes, how to gather falls colors or bite into a guava. Our fathers warmed by the weight of clouds clocking in at factories or cutting sugar cane to earn a new life for us. My cousins and I now scouting the same stars above skyscrapers or palms waiting for time to stop and begin again when rain falls. Washes its way through river or street back to the sea.

[10:15:20] No matter what anthem we sing we've all walked barefoot and bare soul among the soar and dive of sea gulls cries. We've offered our sorrows and hopes up to the sea. Our lips anointed by the same spray of salt latent wind. We've fingered memories and regrets, like stones in our hands that we just can't toss. Yet, yet, we've all cupped seashells up to our ears. Listen again to the echo.

Today the sea still telling us the end to all our doubts and fears is to gaze into the lucid blues of our shared horizon. To breathe together, to heal together. Thank you. (APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the national anthem of the Republic of Cuba.

(APPLAUSE)

DELAURENTIS: Thank you, Richard Blanco, for such inspirational remarks. It's now my very great honor to introduce the secretary of state of the United States, John Kerry.

(APPLAUSE)

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: Please be seated, everybody. Thank you very, very much. I'm so sorry that we are a little bit late today. But what a beautiful ride in and how wonderful to be here. And I thank you for leaving my future transportation out here in back of me. I love it.

(LAUGHTER)

KERRY: Distinguished members of the Cuban delegation, Josefina, thank you for your leadership and for all your work of your delegation. Excellencies from the diplomatic corps. My colleagues from Washington, past and present. Ambassador DeLaurentis and all of the embassy staff, and friends watching around the world.

Thank you for joining us at this truly historic moment as we prepare to raise the United States flag here at our embassy in Havana. Symbolizing the reestablishment of diplomatic relations after 54 years. This is also the first time that a United States secretary of state has been to Cuba since 1945. This morning --

(APPLAUSE)

KERRY: This morning I feel very much at home here and I'm grateful to those who have come to share in this ceremony who are standing around outside of our facilities. And I feel at home here because this is truly a memorable occasion. A day for pushing aside old barriers and exploring new possibilities. And it is in that spirit that I say on behalf of my country --

(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

KERRY: My friends, we are gathered here today because our leaders, President Obama and President Castro, made a courageous decision to stop being the prisoners of history and to focus on the opportunities of today and tomorrow.

This doesn't mean that we should or will forget the past. How could we, after all? At least for my generation the images are indelible. In 1959, Fidel Castro came to the United States and was greeted by enthusiastic crowds. Returning the next year for the U.N. General Assembly he was embraced by then Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. In 1961, the Bay of Pigs tragedy unfolded with President Kennedy accepting responsibility. And in October, 1962, the missile crisis arose. 13 days that pushed

us to the very threshold of nuclear war. I was a student then. And I can still remember the taut faces of our leaders. The grim map showing the movement of opposing ships, the approaching deadline and that peculiar word -- quarantine. We were unsettled and uncertain about the future because we didn't know in closing our eyes at night what we would find when we woke up.

In that frozen environment, diplomatic ties between Washington and this capital city were strained, then stretched thin, then severed. In late 1960 the U.S. ambassador left Havana. Early the following January Cuba demanded a big cut in the size of our diplomatic mission and President Eisenhower then decided he had no choice but to shut the embassy down.

Most of the U.S. staff departed quickly, but a few stayed behind to hand the keys over to our Swiss colleagues who would serve diligently and honorably as our protecting power for more than 50 years. I just met with the Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter and we're grateful to Switzerland always for their service and their help.

(APPLAUSE)

KERRY: Among those remaining at the embassy were the three Marine guards, Larry Morris, Mike East and Jim Tracy. As they stepped outside, they were confronted by large crowd standing between them and the flag pole. Tensions were high. No one felt safe. But the Marines had a mission to accomplish. And slowly the crowd just parted in front of them as they made their way to the flag pole, lowered Old Glory, folded it and returned to the building.

Larry, Mike and Jim had done their jobs but they also made a bold promise that one day they would return to Havana and raise the flag again.

(APPLAUSE)

KERRY: At the time, no one could have imagined how distant that day would be. For more than half a century U.S.-Cuban relations have been suspended in the amber of Cold War politics. In the interim a whole generation of Americans and Cubans have grown up and grown old. The United States has had 10 new presidents. In the United Germany the Berlin wall is a fading memory.

[10:25:03] Freed from Soviet shackles, Central Europe is again hold to thriving to democracies. And last week I was in Hanoi to mark the 20th anniversary of normalization of relations between the United States and Vietnam.

Think about that. A long and terrible war then inflicted indelible scars on body and mind, followed by two decades of mutual healing followed by another two decades of diplomatic and commercial engagement. In this period Vietnam evolved from a country torn apart by violence into a dynamic society with one of the world's fastest growing economies. And all that time through reconciliation, through normalization, Cuban-American relations remained locked in the past. Meanwhile new technologies enabled people everywhere to benefit from

shared projects across vast stretches of ocean and land.

My friends, it doesn't take a GPS to realize that the road of mutual isolation and estrangement that the United States and Cuba were traveling is not the right one. And that the time has come for us to move in a more promising direction.

In the United States, that means recognizing that U.S. policy is not the anvil on which Cuba's future will be forged. Decades of good intentions aside, the policies of the past have not led to a democratic transition in Cuba. It would be equally unrealistic to expect normalizing relations to have, in a short term, a transformational impact. After all, Cuba's future is for Cubans to shape. Responsibility for the nature and quality of governance and accountability rests, as it should, not with any outside entity, but solely within the citizens of this country.

But the leaders in Havana and the Cuban people should also know that the United States will always remain a champion of democratic principles and reforms. Like many other governments in and outside this hemisphere, we will continue to urge the Cuban government to fulfill its obligations under the U.N. and inter-American human rights covenants, obligations shared by the United States and every other country in the Americas.

And indeed, we remain convinced the people of Cuba would be best served by genuine democracy, where people are free to choose their leaders, express their ideas, practice their faith, where the commitment to economic and social justice is realized more fully, where institutions are answerable to those they serve, and where civil society is independent and allowed to flourish.

Let me be clear. The establishment of normal diplomatic relations is not something that one government does as a favor to another. It is something that two countries do together when the citizens of both will benefit. And in this case, the reopening of our embassies is important on two levels. People-to-people and government-to- government.

First, we believe it's helpful for the people of our nations to learn more about each other, to meet each other. That is why we are encouraged that travel from the United States to Cuba has already increased by 35 percent since January and is continuing to go up. We are encouraged that more and more U.S. companies are exploring commercial ventures here that would create opportunities for Cuba's own rising number of entrepreneurs.

And we are encouraged that U.S. firms are interested in helping Cuba expand its telecommunications and Internet links, and that the government here recently pledged to create dozens of new and more affordable Wi-Fi hotspots.

We also want to acknowledge the special role that the Cuban-American community is playing in establishing a new relationship between our countries. And in fact, we have with us this morning representatives from that community, some of whom were born here and others who were born in the United States. With their strong ties of culture and family, they can contribute much to the spirit of bilateral cooperation and progress that we are seeking to create, just as they have contributed much to their communities in their adopted land.

The restoration of diplomatic ties will also make it easier for our governments to engage. After all, we are neighbors, and neighbors will always have much to discuss in such areas as civil aviation, migration policy, disaster preparedness, protecting marine environment, global climate change.