Obama hasn't opened new chapter in US-Cuban relations: Scholar

US President Barack Obama's visit to Cuba is a positive step, but there is a long way to go before we say Washington has opened a new chapter in the normalization of relations with the Latin American nation, according to an American scholar.

Professor James Petras, who has written dozens of books on the Latin America and Middle East, made the remarks in a phone interview with Press TV on Tuesday.

Obama was in Cuba this week for a historic three-day visit along with his wife, two daughters, mother-in-law as well as a group of cabinet members, lawmakers and business leaders. 

On the last day of his historic visit to Cuba on Tuesday, Obama called for a new direction of peace and friendship between the United States and Cuba.

He told Cubans in an unprecedented live television address that he came to their country to open a new chapter in the relations between Washington and Havana.

Professor Petras said Obama has not turned a new page in US relations with Cuba. “He’s turned half a page and the Empire’s goals still remain… The US continues to occupy Guantanamo Bay. The US is still funding the so-called dissidents, and running anti-Cuban propaganda from Miami.”  

“So we can say that the visit and the flexibilization of economic trade and increase in tourism is certainly a positive first step, but there’s a long way to go before we can say the Obama regime has opened a new chapter,” he added.

“I think the follow-up of President Obama’s trip, where he goes to Argentina to greet one of the most reactionary and despotic presidents on the continent and one whom Obama totally embraces, is another side of Obama’s visit to Latin America while he has opened half a page of relations with the revolutionary government in Cuba,” the analyst said.

“He is also embracing and giving a signal that the Argentine male liberal authoritarian model is where US policy is heading, and signaling to Latin America this is the direction he would like to see the continent go,” he stated.  

“It’s very similar to his negotiated agreement with Iran; while it opens up new possibilities of trade, and investment, he’s also increased the military involvement in Syria and support of Israel,” the scholar said.

“So, again, it’s a crab policy -- one step to the left, and two steps to the right,” Professor Petras concluded. 

The United States broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1961 and placed an official embargo against the country in 1962. 

The two countries became ideological foes soon after the 1959 revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power and their ties remained hostile even after the end of the Cold War.

The Republican-controlled US Congress has been a major opponent of normalization of ties as well as the embargo lift.

In order for the US embargo to be lifted, the Cuban government should continue to change its policies and rethink its handling of human rights issues, Obama said on Monday, speaking at a joint press conference with Cuban President Raul Castro following their meeting in Havana. 

In response, Castro said full normalization of relations between America and Cuba depends on the US Congress lifting the embargo and shutting down a US military prison in Guantanamo Bay. He also said that the US needs to return Guantanamo Bay to Cuba.

In addition, Castro advised the United States not to criticize Cuba's human rights record since the US has its own long history of racial, economic inequality and human rights abuses.

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