Barack Obama and Raul Castro Exchange Letters

Barack Obama and Raul Castro Exchange Letters
Posted on July 2, 2015

Barack Obama to Raul Castro

June 30, 2015

His Excellency
Raul Castro Ruz
President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of the
Republic of Cuba
Havana

Dear Mr. President:

I am pleased to confirm, following high-level discussions between our
two governments, and in accordance with international law and practice,
that the United States of America and the Republic of Cuba have decided
to re-establish diplomatic relations and permanent diplomatic missions
in our respective countries on July 20, 2015. This is an important step
forward in the process of normalizing relations between our two
countries and peoples that we initiated last December.

In making this decision, the United States is encouraged by the
reciprocal intention to develop respectful and cooperative relations
between our two peoples and governments consistent with the Purposes and
Principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, including
those related to sovereign equality of States, settlement of
international disputes by peaceful means, respect for the territorial
integrity and political independence of States, respect for equal rights
and self-determination of peoples, non-interference in the internal
affairs of States, and promotion and encouragement of respect for human
rights and fundamental freedoms for all.

The United States and Cuba are each parties to the Vienna Convention on
Diplomatic Relations, signed at Vienna on April 18, 1961, and the Vienna
Convention on Consular Relations, signed at Vienna on April 24, 1963. I
am pleased to confirm the understanding of the United States that these
agreements will apply to diplomatic and consular relations between our
two countries.

Sincerely,

[signed Barack Obama]

Raul Castro to Barack Obama (English translation)

Havana, July 1, 2015
Hon. Mr. Barack H. Obama
President of the United States of America

Mr. President:

Consistent with the announcements of 17 December 2014 and the high-level
discussions between our governments, I am pleased to address you to
confirm that the Republic of Cuba has decided to reestablish diplomatic
relations with the United States of America and open permanent
diplomatic missions in our respective countries on 20 July 2015.

The Cuban side takes this decision animated by the reciprocal intention
to develop respectful and cooperative relations between our peoples and
governments.

Cuba is inspired as well by the principles and proposals enshrined in
the United Nations Charter and International Law, namely, sovereign
equality, the settlement of disputes by peaceful means, abstaining from
resorting to threat or the use of force against the territorial
integrity or the political independence of any State, non-intervention
in matters that are the internal jurisdiction of the States, the
promotion of friendly relations between nations based on respect for the
principal of equal rights and free determination of peoples, and
cooperation in the solution of international problems and in the
development and promotion of respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms for all.

The above is consistent with the spirit and the norms established in the
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 18 April 1961 and the
Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 24 April 1963, to which both
the Republic of Cuba and the United States are Party States, and will
govern diplomatic and consular relations between the Republic of Cuba
and the United States of America.

I take this opportunity to express to you, Mr. President, the assurances
of our consideration.

Raul Castro Ruz
President of the Councils of State and of Ministers
Republic of Cuba

Source: Barack Obama and Raul Castro Exchange Letters | Translating Cuba
- http://translatingcuba.com/barack-obama-and-raul-castro-exchange-letters/