克里并且简短地用西班牙语说，奥巴马政府欢迎与古巴人民和政府关系的这一新开端，决心在相互尊重的基础上发展友好睦邻关系。他表示，古巴人民和美国人民可以满怀希望地展望未来。

奥巴马总统7月1日说，古巴人民和美国人民都不应受“历史的禁锢”，交往而不是孤立符合双方的最佳利益。

奥巴马总统说：“随着这一变化，我们将能够大大增加与古巴人民的联系。我们的使馆将有更多工作人员。我们的外交官将有能力更广泛地接触到全岛各地。这将包括古巴政府、公民社会、以及争取实现更好生活的普通古巴人。”

克里国务卿说，他将于8月14日前往古巴，祝贺美国驻哈瓦那（Havana）大使馆重新启动。

克里说：“我对我们[西]半球各地的朋友敦促我们——有些敦促了几十年——恢复外交关系和对我们恢复外交关系的决定给予热情欢迎表示感谢。

克里说：展望未来，“两国政府都必须本着开诚布公和相互尊重的精神前进。我可以向世界——包括古巴人民——保证，美国将尽自己的努力。”

Resuming normal diplomatic ties, the U.S. and Cuba turn a new page

 “It’s an historic day, a day for removing barriers,” Secretary of State John Kerry said July 20 as the United States and Cuba marked the reopening of embassies in each other’s countries and the resumption of normal diplomatic ties after 54 years.

Briefly speaking in Spanish, Kerry said the Obama administration welcomes the new beginning in its relationship with Cuba’s people and government, and it is determined to have good and neighborly relations on the basis of mutual respect. Cubans and Americans can look forward to the future with hope, he said.

President Obama said July 1 that neither the Cuban nor American people have to be “imprisoned by the past,” and both are best served by engagement rather than isolation.

“With this change, we will be able to substantially increase our contacts with the Cuban people. We’ll have more personnel at our embassy. And our diplomats will have the ability to engage more broadly across the island. That will include the Cuban government, civil society, and ordinary Cubans who are reaching for a better life,” the president said.

Secretary Kerry said he will visit Cuba August 14 to celebrate the reopening of the U.S. Embassy in Havana.

“I thank our friends around the [Western] Hemisphere who have urged us – in some cases for decades – to restore our diplomatic ties and who have warmly welcomed our decision to do so,” he said.

Looking ahead, “both governments must proceed in a spirit of openness and mutual respect. I can assure the world, including the people of Cuba, that the United States will do its part,” Kerry said.