Exchange for releasing you . Yeah, i think they want something thats completely unrealistic. Since im not really a prisoner, im a hostage, they took me with the idea of trading me. Reporter the landmark deal involves the release of three cubans convicted in the u. S. Of spying. Part of the socalled cuban five. For more than five decades, the u. S. Has observed a trade embargo on cuba, imposed during cuban revolution and Fidel Castros takeover of the island. In 2011, president obama relaxed some travel restrictions and last year he raised eyebrows in the cuban exile community, telling a fundraiser in miami the embargo doesnt make sense saying we have to be creative and we have to be thoughtful and we have to continue to update our policies. And, carol, the initiatives the president will announce today, im told, including a major relaxing of travel restrictions for americans, were talking about a general license to travel to cuba for practically anything but tourism. A resum slption of b
Announced today are going to go a long way, much further than perhaps any administration in living memory to try and reach a normal and racial, sane policy with cuba. Thank so much for the reporting. Cnn is the only American Network in cuba on the ground at this morning. Sounds like the flood gates are about to open personally and financially. Its going to be interesting to get the reporting on the ground. There are generations of cuban americans who believe that they had their lives and what matter to them most stripped by that administration that is fill in place. Theres a lot of coverage for us to do on this major breaking news. Lets get you to the newsroom with Carol Costella for more. Thanks so much. Newsro newsroom starts now. Im carol costello. We have breaking news this morning. What may be the biggest shift in cuban relations in decades appears to be unfolding this morning. Alan gross, an American Contractor held prisoner in cuba for the last five years is now on his way home