Welcome to inside story im Lisa Fletcher in for ray suarez. Search for a better path, how secretary of state john kerry described the new chapter in the u. S. Cuban relationship. The historic raising of the flag in havana, he presided, something that hasnt happened since january 1961. Thats when three u. S. Marines were tasked with taking down the flag as the United States ended diplomatic relations with cuba. Those same three u. S. Marines were on hand today to witness a far more welcome sight. Secretary of state kerry rawltd those days noting that cubas future is for cub cubans to dec. But he noted that the United States will watch for cubans to reform. The United States will always remain a champion of democrat principles and reforms and indeed we remain convinced the people of cuba would be best served by genuine democracy, where people are free choose their leaders express their ideas practice their faith with a 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. So what led to the 54 year standoff . For that we turn to al jazeeras antonio mora. Fidel castro tr triumphantly entered cuba after bautista fled in 1959. Four days later, castro went to the United States to ask for hem. He met with senators and Vice President richard nixon. But castros pro soviet stance was on full display. Your leaders speak about the aggression to cuba and defending cuba. President eisenhower went on a golfing vacation instead. When asked by a reporter if he is a communist. Well, wait for history. The history will state what we are. U. S. Cuba relations went downhill from there. Castro took over american property and raised taxes on american goods. The u. S. Retaliated by slashing trade with cuba soon leading to a full embargo. The u. S. Broke off relations with cuba in 1961. In april the u. S. Supported the bay of pigs invasion, which failed to overthrow government. Then an american spy plane spotted missiles in cuba, starting off the missile crisis and the u. S. Stood on the brink of nuclear war. It shall be the policy of this nation to regard missiles launched on any nation in the western hemisphere as an attack by cuba on the United States. The missiles would be dismantled on a pledge for the u. S. Not to invade cuba. Relations only began to improve after rawl raul castro became president and shook hands with president obama at Nelson Mandelas funeral. Secret talks brokered by pope francis, and the neighbors announced they would set aside five decades of hostility. Today the u. S. Government is changing its relationship with the country of cuba, the largest change in our history in 50 years. That officially happened on july 20th. Hours later the cuban anthem played and cubas flag was raised over what is now once again Cubas Embassy in washington. Translator we reaffirm cubas willingness to move towards normalized relations in a constructive spirit. Antonio mora joins us, antonio you are of cuban descent, this is not your first time back, but as you talk to people is there a renewed sense of optimism . Lisa i ive returned to the island three times, it is similar to the visit of pope paul the sek 2nd. , it hasnt happened in 70 years it was also a rare occasion because they got to see the official of the embassy live on National Television including secretary of state john kerrys speech. He went to a landmark here in havana to give a press conference with the Cuban Foreign minister. That was also broadcast live again an unusual event, it was a mob scene at the hotel international, he was mobbed by tourists and by ordinary cubans so again a very exciting and hopeful day here in havana lisa. Antonio mora, reporting from havana. The long frozen relationship between the u. S. And cuba cannot be thawed by opening an embassy or raising a flag. The u. S. Embargo is still in place and theres the outpost guantanamo bay, and there are hurdles for diplomats and negotiators to work out. Are the people ready for the changes ahead, and what would it take for cuban americans to want to go back, our first guest is armando mower noaa. Moreno. Why did you leave cuba . Thank you for having me here. I left cuba 15 years ago, i first went to europe to spain and i left the country because i was not comfortable and i was not feeling really well in a society where my rights were not respected and i left the country also because economic reasons you know like many people and many cubans who have left the country. Right. Would you ever go back as a resident of cuba . Well, i havent been in cuba for more than ten years now. And i dont think its the right time for me to go back to cuba. I dont feel so excited about all the changes that they are promoting or taking that are going to happen. And during all those years, ive been building my life outside the country and i have a part of my my life in cuba but i also have a new life outside which is the one that i want to write and develop, you know. And part of that new life is being a successful artist in new york city. Youve said that artists are pawns to the cuban government. Explain that. Well, as many people know there is now kind of boom of cuban art. And many of the cuban artists who live in cuba, they are really, really having collecting an amount of money they live a very wealthy life and they live really well because they have a very high standard. They gain a lot of money and this is completely different from the rest of the population. They are like a kind of elite and they feel so secure because they know that this is a kind of a status in a society. I want to show some of your artwork as were talking about, as were talking about it. It is beautiful. It is colorful but when i look at it, it is also very dark and heavy at the same time. Can you talk a little bit about the message that youre communicating with your art . Well, i always try to keep my art in connection with reality, in connection with society in connection with the contemporary life that we live in. In connection with whats really going on with people around the world. Ive always been working in very different directions. The painting what my interest is catching and this, my art is very social. Because i think the art have to give some into the society and also there is a kind of a feed, you know, my interest, and my knowledge and my intelligence, with the society, and the art have to give everybody this kind of reflection and armando you mentioned a connection to reality with your art. Do you think that the cuban people speak going a connection to reality, do you think they really understand what true freedom and true democracy is . I dont think of the cuban people is ready for democracy and freedom. They have been listen during the 60 year under that propaganda and they know only one party and they dont understand the freedom of speech or the human rights or civil rights. It is going to take a long time. Armando moreno, thank you for joining us. Will cuba one day be more like the United States in terms of democracy and human rights and what role will cuban americans play . Returning to cuba, its the inside story. Bl phone or in their car, so why is it so weird on their plate . Somethings going into food that shouldnt really be there. Techknow investigates. You could not pay me to fake data. They believed in what they were doing but they were not scientists. It wasnt science at all. Theres a lot of lives at stake, a lot of innocent people. How many are still locked up . The integrity of the criminal Justice System is at stake, plain and simple. Faultlines. What do we want . Al jazeera americas hardhitting. Today the will be arrested. Groundbreaking. Theyre firing canisters of gas at us. Emmy awardwinning, investigative series. We have to get out of here. Welcome back to inside story, im lync Lisa Fletcher r ray suarez. President obama is betting that dealing with cuba directly with issues of human rights, that loosening traveling restrictions, that in the long run, engaging rather than isolating the island nation is the way to go. For the newly reformed talk, we turn to Sylvia Pedraza and michael bustamante. Thanks to all of you for being here. Iso orlando, a state media message in Fidel Castros flame did ramble on about the american embargo and how its cost cuba millions and millions of dollars, it also went on about the anniversary of the atomic bomb in japan and castro is quoted as saying, america owes cuba billions. The castro regime is a regime that is run by a family, that is totalitarian not by advocates but by action, work like an inverse funnel. The resources will stay with the regime, the regime will use those resources to consolidate its hold on power and on the streets throughout cuba with movement from the ladies in white and others demanding freedom will simply suffer more repression and the regime will feel because the United States has reestablished relations, is on the green light for that repression. How much power is he still throwing around . The entire narrative of the regime power in cuba is centered on fidel castro, inherently dictatorial and totalitarian. It pecheit perpetuates itself or many, and is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of cubans and the imprisonment of thousands of other cubans. Some day soon they will be charged with those crimes in the international tribunal. Today during the flag raising ceremony at the u. S. Embassy you got choked up. Why . Absolutely, im both a cuban and an american. I came here when i was 12 years old, i was an under graduate at the university of michigan in an ann arbor. To see a rapprochement between both countries, both embassies to see the United States flag waving in the air was in fact a moving experience. I disagree a bit with what orlando has said, that is to be expected because i have returned to cuba 14 times over many years and i have seen a lot of changes take place in the attitudes and the hearts and the minds of the cuban people and i actually dont think that fidel castro today rules in cuba. He has a role to play. He or somebody writes for him these articles that appear in the official organ of the communist party in cuba, the number. But he no longer has the hearts and the minds of the people and so im going to put you on pause there for a second sylvia. Given free speech in cuba is it upon for anybody to get a realistic read no no sylvia, i want michael to jump in. I would say absolutely. And thats something coming from traftraveling there. One of the things that i have noticed is changes that seem small from the outside and may in fact be small in the outside to the cuban people can seem huge to cuban people. I have seen the ability with which people comment on their daily life in a very critical way change dramatically. I think cubans are nothing if not frank. In private but also increasingly in public and so i think my own perception is that cuba is increasingly a society of gray rather than black and white. Orlando speaking of frank cubans, dissidents were not allowed at todays sploin, ther, there was a separate ceremony held for them. What did that say . First of all a significant number did not attend that ceremony in protest. By not inviting those cubans who are frank and challenge the government publicly it became very evident that the purpose of this entire policy is to engage the castro regime. The castro regime is a family of hub and power by a paramilitary that represses the cuban people. Clearly told they are second class citizens in the vision of the obama administration, they are relegated to discrete meetings where the press cannot go. They are not center of what we are trying to accomplish in cuba. Thats a mistake. Those cubans who live inside cuba who are inside the island and struggling for change, they deserve our recognition support and our engagement. We are going to dont conversation in just a minute. With the change in policy between the two nations, are cuban americans going to be welcomed back . And what would it take for them to want to go . Returning to cuba, its the inside story. Honestly personally i think its an exciting time. My family hasnt been to cuba in over 50 years. And its a new day, having a new opportunity. I think with the right leadership, with the right conversations you can start to see change. I agree with him. But dont forget all the people that have died in there. That, i will never forget. Welcome back to inside story. Im Lisa Fletcher in for ray suarez. Inearlier in the program we heard from armando moreno. He not interested in rushing but others are up in the air about it. How would religious attorneys and Economic Opportunity have to change for them to return home, sylvia, orlando, and michael, sylvia what would it take for cuban americans to feel like they could go home, feel welcomed and not fear oppression . Well, this is an issue that divides cuban americans very much. I think that the early exiles, what one could call the historical exiles have made it a red badge of courage that they do not wish to return to cuba until it has democracy and freedom. They will not return. Some of the exiles have been forced to return, some who have left very recently because if they dont return they lose their rights to what are they own in cuba. They have been forced to return to cuba every year or now its changed to every two years. I was just in spain and those in spain, it is an enormous expense to them, thats a forced return. Then i think among the more recent exiles it also depends on how much people suffered in cuba. People suffered a great deal in cuba and the artist you interviewed a while ago may well be an example of it dont wish to return. It was more difficult and they have made a life somewhere else. Boat in my generation and the more recent cubans that if there was odemocratic opening they would like the return and help the process of democratic reconstruction in cuba. Michael who do you think is most likely to repatriate. Its not just about repatriation. It is about circulator o circume layerity. Even Small Business ownership these days, what that in effect means is cubans have a special carve out in u. S. Immigration law that louse the louis them tt permanent residency in the u. S. In one year. That last created a sort of transnational flow of people and dollars that is really at the forefront of economic change that this is happening. There are people that would look to permanently repatriate but the circularity is palpable. Orlando as cubans weigh the item iof going home is it more of freedom of expression and democratic governance . Cubans are free people, we love the island, we love the nation weve been given by god. The reason people leave cuba in droves is because there is oppression in that country. Now i agree with sylvia theres a significant amount of cubans who live outside the island who would commit to building a new cuban republic if there is no repression, if there are free labor parties, and cubans wherever they have around the world have seen economic success, shown what they could do with freedom. I think theres a significant number, intense number where they can commit to building a new cuba in freedom and address. We insist that economic sanctions in the castro dictatorship not be lifted, freedom for multiparty elections the end to repression and other such key human rights be respected by whoever is in power in cuba. Sylvia has obama done enough to win human rights reforms . Probably not. But i also think it depends how you think of it. Some of the dissidents in cuba who didnt want to participate in todays event that to them cuba first ought to hold elections first, get the prisoners out of the prison the Political Prisoners out of the prisons and then they could reestablish relations. But that sort of sequence of events has been the one that people in the Miami Community have been waiting for, for 54 years, and it has not happened. So i think what obama is doing is in fact betting on the opposite. As he put it very simply very pragmatically in his speech at that time, lets try Something Else, okay and the Something Else is lets try and see if reestablishing Relations First is more likely and more conducive to the kind of environment that may well issue a democratic response. I happen to think that is fine. Last question to you michael how does this issue play into the election . Hillary is calling to an end to the embargo, republicans are slamming this deal, jeb bush thinks the embargo should be fortified. How does this play out . Its hard to envision cuba, being a central part of the election, cuba tents to be a low strategic priority. I would say as the season picks up, congressional inertia, will be a significant involvement of the embargo moving forward. On sylvias point i both agree and disagree. For me this is not just about a new strategy but in fact taking the United States out of the game, making us less of the boogie man we have been in the society. Thank you for our guests, that is it for tonights inside story. For ray suarez, im Lisa Fletcher. Have a great weekend. Marking 70 years since the end of world war ii, japan holds a special ceremony. From al jazeera headquarters in doha, im darren jordan. Greece deploys a passenger ferry to process thousands of new arrivals. The death toll from huge explosion in cloins port city of tienjin rises to 85. And