By M. Bilal Kenasari and Barry Ellsworth
WASHINGTON / TRENTON
American contractor Alan Gross thanked President Barack Obama on Wednesday, following his release after serving five years in a Cuban prison.
"I'm incredibly blessed finally to have the freedom to resume a positive and constructive life," Gross said, while standing with his wife during a press conference in Washington.
Cuba released Gross as part of an agreement to re-establish diplomatic relations with the U.S.
Obama said that while he was prepared “for some time” to take steps to ease relations with Cuba, Gross’ detention was an impediment to moving forward.
Gross was arrested Dec. 3, 2009 and convicted of allegedly importing banned technology to the Caribbean island and trying to establish clandestine Internet service for Cuban Jews.
The U.S. Agency for International Development subcontractor was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
His release followed secret high-level negotiations in Canada and the Vatican and resulted in a spy swap between the U.S. and Cuba.
The swap included the release of three Cuban intelligence assets being held in the U.S., for the release of an unidentified American intelligence asset held in Cuba.
The Cuban Five were convicted in 2001 of conspiracy to commit espionage and murder, but two were released after completing their sentences.
"To president Obama and the NSC staff, thank you," Gross said, referring to the National Security Council. “Ultimately, the decision to arrange for and secure my release was made in the Oval Office.”
Despite his experience in a Cuban prison, a time when his lawyers described him as "mentally vanquished, gaunt, hobbling and missing five teeth," Gross said he has the utmost respect and fondness for Cuba's people. "In no way are they responsible for the ordeal to which my family and I have been subjected," he said as he described most Cubans as incredibly kind, generous and talented.
The first steps in an about face in US policy toward Cuba began with the help of Canada.
During an address to the nation, Obama thanked Canada for playing a major role in opening American and Cuban diplomatic relations by hosting secret high-level talks.
The talks between U.S. and Cuban officials were held in several countries but the first face-to-face encounter was in Canada in June 2013, Canadian media reported.
Most of the subsequent negotiations also happened on Canadian soil, with the last one in November.
Pope Francis also played a role, making a personal appeal by letter to Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro for the two countries to end hostilities.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Canadian government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper had not commented on the country’s role in the negotiations, but in a written statement, New Democratic Party foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar gave credit to his country’s diplomats.
“I thank our Canadian diplomats for their hard work on this file,” he said. “This is what diplomacy looks like – and Canada is very good at it.”
American media reported that Canada helped solve two crucial problems.
The first was keeping the talks secret, because if a leak had occurred the political fallout in the U.S. would likely have killed the negotiations.
Second, the talks could not be held on U.S. or Cuban soil and Canada offered to play host.
UN Secretary-General welcomed the promise of a new chapter in U.S.-Cuba relations as “very positive,” adding that the UN repeatedly emphasized such a need through General Assembly resolutions in the past.
“I'd like to thank President Barack Obama of the United States and President Raul Castro for taking this very important step towards normalizing relations,” Ban Ki-moon told reporters during his traditional end-of-year press conference.
The UN General Assembly has condemned the U.S. commercial, economic and financial embargo against Cuba for 23 years in a row.
“I sincerely hope this announcement will help to expand the further the exchanges between the two peoples who have been separated quite a long time,” Ban said. “The United Nations stands ready to help both countries to cultivate their good neighborly relations.”
The long history of rancorous relations between the U.S. and Cuba began after when Fidel Castro overthrew Fulgencio Batista and established close ties with the Soviet Union. Castro also nationalized U.S.-owned properties.
The U.S. has imposed rigid trade embargoes on Cuba since the early 1960s and cut off diplomatic ties in 1961.
The infamous failed “Bay of Pigs” invasion attempt followed when a group of Cuban exiles, with help from the CIA, tried to overthrow Castro.
www.aa.com.tr/en
