Cuban President pressured by Obama to make moves

Obama has pushed through regulatory changes

President Barack Obama has broadened opportunities for Americans to spend money, travel, and open businesses in Cuba following two rounds of regulatory reforms since December. While America has been on the move, it seems Cuba has limited its movements to reopening its Washington Embassy.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Cuban president Raúl Castro was present at the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday. However, he seemed to be present merely as a formality. 
Castro mentioned the opening of Cuba to the United States before repeating his demand the embargo be lifted and he recited Cuban foreign policy positions with an inclusion of independence for Puerto Rico.

United States President Obama pressed to hear more. Before the meeting Obama shook Castro's hand and Obama's officials announced if Cuba wanted progress on its demand to life the embargo, it needs to demonstrate it is prepared to open its economy and respect human and political rights.
A White House statement released after the meeting said, "The President welcomed the progress made in establishing diplomatic relations and underscored that continued reforms in Cuba would increase the impact of U.S. regulatory changes."
According to one official, who opted to speak anonymously, highlighted Cuba's lack of movement, saying lawmakers who supported bills against the embargo "are desperate from gestures and they aren't getting those gestures. There's been no real give at all."
The official added, "At the beginning, we were saying, 'You don't have forever' to make progress." 
Cubans assume they are on a schedule for Castro's decision to step down from his office in 2018 but the official stated, "they're really on a schedule for Obama's stepping down" in 2017.  The official spoke of human rights in Cuba, explaining Cuba held political dissidents from visiting Pope Francis during the papal visit and that security forces often beat them in an attempt to disrupt political assembly and public expression.
A way of demonstrating human rights progress in Cuba is to allow access to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which has never before been allowed to visit Cuban prisons, the official stated.
An assessment on Friday by the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council described the U.S. measures as "chum" Cuba used to attract investments from other countries.
It was also noted, "Visits to the Republic of Cuba by Members of Congress, Governors, trade organization members, advocacy group supporters, company representatives, and sole proprietors increased. None have resulted in payments by the Republic of Cuba for any of the newly-authorized exports from the  United States."

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