WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement as the United States and Cuba formally re-established diplomatic relations after 54 years:
"The re-opening of the embassies in Havana and Washington marks a turning point in a relationship fraught with mistrust and Cold War antagonism. While both our countries have many differences to resolve, the best diplomats of American values are Americans themselves, and I believe that by re-establishing formal relations and further opening Cuba to American tourism, trade and commerce, we ultimately will bring freedom and openness to Cuba. There is still much work to do -- Congress must act to lift the trade embargo and ease restrictions on trade and tourism that hinder the freedom of Americans and Cubans to travel and do business. I will continue to work on the Foreign Relations Committee to push for a repeal of these outdated laws."
