President Barack Obama has announced the most sweeping shift in U.S. policy toward Cuba in more than half a century.
Speaking live from the Cabinet Room of the White House, the President said Washington will move to re-establish diplomatic relations between the two countries, relax travel restrictions, expand commercial sales and exports between the two countries and review Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Mr. Obama said America's current approach to its relationship with Cuba is 'outdated' and he wanted to start a 'new chapter':
IN: We will end...
OUT: ... of the Americas
DUR: 19 seconds
President Obama said that the release of US contractor Alan Gross on humanitarian grounds removed the barriers towards normalising relations:
IN: While I've been...
OUT: ... on humanitarian grounds
DUR: 27 seconds
Mr. Obama recognised that Washington and Havana will still have their differences in the future:
IN: Given Cuba's history...
OUT: the 21st century
DUR: 25 seconds
The President said the State Department will review Cuba's inclusion on the State Department list of state sponsors of terrorism:
IN: I've instructed Secretary....
OUT: ...face this sanction
DUR: 21 seconds
President Obama called on the US Congress to work with him on changing the nature of the relationship with Cuba
IN: These are the...
OUT: ...a different result
DUR: 30 seconds
Mr. Obama extended his thanks to the Vatican for helping broker talks between the US and Cuba:
IN: To those who've...
OUT: ...as it is
DUR: 14 seconds