U.S. President Barack Obama hailed the progress in relations between the United States and Cuba while acknowledging the two sides continue to have “very serious” differences on democracy and human rights.”

Obama spoke after talks with Cuban President Raul Castro in Havana on ways to advance normalization.

At a joint news conference, Castro welcomed the easing of trade and travel restrictions announced by Washington but stressed the need for action to lift a 55-year trade embargo on the communist country. Castro also called on the U.S. to return land used for the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

Obama and Castro shook hands before going into talks at the Revolutionary Palace, a day after Obama became the first sitting U.S. president in nearly 90 years to arrive in the island nation.

Earlier in the day, Obama attended a wreath laying ceremony at the monument of the Cuban independence hero Jose Marti at the Plaza of the Revolution. 

“It is a great honor to pay tribute to Jose Marti, who gave his life for independence of his homeland. His passion for liberty, freedom, and self-determination lives on in the Cuban people today, ” Obama wrote in a guest book.

The U.S leader then met with with Castro at the nearby Revolutionary Palace, one day after making history as the first sitting U.S. president in nearly 90 years to visit the island nation.

Throughout Havana on Sunday, people lined the streets as the U.S. president’s motorcade rolled by, with crowds waving, cheering, blowing kisses and chanting Obama’s name.

Meetings with Cubans

The U.S. president is scheduled to meet with a range of people in Cuba, from government leaders, to young people, entrepreneurs, members of civil society and dissidents, something White house officials say the Cuban government is not pleased about.

On Sunday, dozens of members of the Ladies in White opposition group and some dissident supporters were arrested during their weekly march at the Parque Gandhi or Gandhi Park.

Most of them were released hours later, leader Berta Soler, told VOA on Monday.

Soler said the whereabouts of roughly 10 activists were still not known. The group plans more protests during Obama’s visit.

Trade embargo

The U.S trade embargo on Cuba has to be lifted by the Republican-controlled Congress, but there is disagreement about Obama’s policy shift from isolation to engagement with Cuba.

 

To push the new U.S. policy beyond Obama’s final year in office, the president needs bipartisan support. Obama invited a large delegation of both Republican and Democratic lawmakers who are also in Havana.

Also on Monday, Obama will attend events focused on entrepreneurship with a series of sessions that will include Cuban Americans and Cuban entrepreneurs who will discuss changes both governments can make encourage more commercial ties and engagement.

Since the two countries formally restored diplomatic ties in July, the U.S. has loosened travel and commercial restrictions, allowing more people-to-people contact between the U.S. and Cuba.

State dinner

Obama is to attend a state dinner late Monday at the Revolutionary Palace.

But the highlight of the trip, according to the White House, will be an address he will deliver to the Cuban people on Tuesday.

He is expected to speak about the difficult and complicated history between the two nations, the current course to normalize relations and his vision for future relations between the former Cold War enemies.

Victoria Macchi contributed to this report.
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