Raul Castro: Cuba, US have agreed to restore diplomatic ties

The TV grab taken on Dec 17, 2014 shows Cuban leader Raul Castro giving a televised speech in Havana, capital of Cuba. Cuban leader Raul Castro confirmed Wednesday in a special TV appearance that his government and the Obama Administration of the United States had agreed to reestablish the diplomatic relations between the two countries. [Photo/Xinhua]

HAVANA - Cuban leader Raul Castro confirmed in Havana Wednesday in a special TV appearance that his government and the Obama Administration of the United States had agreed to reestablish the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In a historic TV broadcast timed to coincide with a similar address delivered by US President Barack Obama in Washington DC, Castro also insisted differences between the United States and Cuba should be resolved through "negotiation," stressing Cuba will defend its main principles.

"We have agreed to restore diplomatic ties, though that doesn't mean the main issue, which is the economic, trade and financial blockade, which causes major damage and must cease, has been resolved," said Castro.

Castro also said that he and President Obama had a phone conversation Tuesday, discussing and addressing measures aiming to normalize the bilateral ties, and the proposals fully conform with the international law, the human rights and the Charter of the United Nations.

The Cuban leader called for an end to the economic, financial and trade blockade imposed by Washington against Havana since 1962, one year after the ties between the United States and Cuba were severed, urging President Obama to exercise his power to change US embargo resolutions against Cuba.

Castro voiced Cuba's willingness to cooperate with the US in all of the international forums.

While urging Obama to remove all the obstacles that restrict the normal links between the two nations, Castro asked Obama to recognize that there are "differences" in both countries by "concepts of democracy, human rights and government".

"We must learn the art of living together in a civilized way with our own differences," said Castro.

Officials from the two countries are now expected to initiate talks on restoring ties, which were severed in 1961.

News of the rapprochement followed an exchange of prisoners between the two countries earlier in the day. Alan Gross, a US subcontractor who had served behind bars for five years in a Cuban prison on charges of illegally importing communications equipment with the intent to incite unrest in the island country, was released and flown back home early Wednesday.

In the meantime, the remaining three agents of the Cuban Five, who had been imprisoned in the United States, were released and returned to their home country Wednesday. Before that, two other agents of the group -- Rene Fernandez and Fernando Gonzalez -- were freed in 2011 and 2014 after serving about 13 years and more than 15 years behind bars, respectively. They now live in Havana.