Glued to TVs, Cubans Cheer U.S. Talks
US flags are seen in a bici-taxi near the capitol in Havana on January 23, 2015. Hours into historic US-Cuba talks in Havana, a Cuban official came out to boast about the 'relaxed' atmosphere at the meeting between the old Cold War adversaries
Photographer: Yamil Lage/AFP/Getty ImagesAs U.S. and Cuban diplomats met to begin restoring diplomatic ties after five decades, Havana’s residents followed the developments with a fervor normally reserved for a Papal visit or a sporting championship.
Cuban media aired and rebroadcast briefings throughout the two days of negotiations, a rarity in a society where the press is state-run and people often get news from relatives or friends. While U.S. and Cuban officials said differences between their governments remain “profound,” participants from both sides smiled broadly for the public and said the talks were productive.