Cuba to open its embassy in US today after 54-year freeze

July 20, 2015 09:11

The United States and Cuba will abolish one of the last vestiges of the Cold War today when, in a move unimaginable just a few months ago, they restore diplomatic ties frozen for half a century.

For the first time since 1961, the Cuban red, white and blue flag will fly over Havana's newly upgraded embassy in Washington, just a stone's throw from the White House.

And from the crack of dawn today, it will also take its place in a row of flags from around the world which adorn the State Department's imposing marble entrance.

In yet another historic gesture, US Secretary of State John Kerry will also formally receive his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez for talks, before holding a joint press conference.

Rodriguez will earlier preside over a ceremony to mark the upgrading of the Cuban interests section to a full embassy.

The remarkable turnaround in relations between the communist authorities in Cuba and the US administration after five decades of hostility has happened at break-neck speed.

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