Cuba Will Broadcast Obama’s Havana Speech Live

HAVANA TIMES — Cuban state television will broadcast live the speech by Barack Obama to the Cuban people next Tuesday during his visit in Havana, announced Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Thursday, reported dpa news.

“President Obama will have the opportunity to directly address the Cuban people,” said Rodriguez. “His speech will be televised live,” he added. “Everyone can see his speech and everyone can form their own opinion on what he says.”

Obama is set to arrive in Havana on Sunday for a three day visit, a milestone in the thaw in US-Cuba relations. Besides meeting with his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro, cardinal Jaime Ortega, a group of private entrepreneurs and another of dissidents, Obama will deliver a much awaited speech on Tuesday at the Havana Grand Theater.

Rodriguez said the event will be attended by a broad representation of “Cuban civil society.” The Cuban government refers to civil society as mass organizations on the island that support the Castro regime.

The foreign minister noted said his government does not know in advance the text of Obama’s speech.

All media in Cuba is owned by the state, which does not normally allow information critical of the government, its top leaders, or the country’s political and economic system.

Obama’s visit to Cuba, the second by a standing US president to Havana, is part of the historic thaw initiated by both countries in December 2014. The two countries resumed diplomatic relations in July of last year.

Another highlight of the trip will be Obama’s presence at the exhibition baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban National Team, set for 2:00 p.m. also on Tuesday, March 22.