Cuba and US seek to end 50 years of Cold War enmity

President Barack Obama has announced the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba and declared an end to America’s “outdated approach” to the communist island in a historic shift aimed at ending a half-century of Cold War enmity.

“These 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked,” Obama said in remarks from the White House. “It’s time for a new approach.”

As Obama spoke to Americans, Cuban President Raul Castro addressed his own nation from Havana, saying while the two countries still have profound differences in areas such as human rights and foreign policy, they must learn to live together “in a civilised manner”.