Maintenance crews at the US Department of State put up the Cuban flag in the main lobby around 4am local time Monday. With the flags arranged alphabetically, Cuba assumed its rightful place between Croatia and Cyprus.
It was the first time the island nation’s banner has been displayed in the building; according to the State Department’s protocol office, the lobby was dedicated on January 5, 1961 – two days after the US broke diplomatic relations with Cuba.
Media assembled in front of the Cuban embassy on 16th Street in Washington, DC, for the grand opening ceremony taking place at 10:30am local time. The mansion had been operating as an interests section, under the auspices of the Swiss embassy, since 1977.
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez is leading the Cuban delegation to the US, and will meet with Secretary of State John Kerry later in the day at the State Department. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson and current chief of the US Interests Section in Havana Jeffrey DeLaurentis will represent the US at the embassy ceremony.
The US flag will be raised at the embassy in Havana in August, when Secretary Kerry heads to Cuba for an official visit.
Announcing the reopening of embassies earlier this month, President Barack Obama said the US needed to support its values through engagement, not blockade.
“We don’t have to be imprisoned by the past. If something isn’t working, we can and will change,” Obama said.
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