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s. And all that time, through reconciliation, through normalization,CubanAmerican relations remained locked in the past. Meanwhile, new technologies enabled people everywhere to benefit from shared projects acrossvast stretches of ocean and land. My friends, it doesnamp。39。t take a GPS to realize that the road ofmutual isolation and estrangement that the United States and Cuba were traveling was notthe right one and that the time has e for us to move in a more promising direction. In the United States, that means recognizing that . policy is not the anvil on which Cubaamp。39。sfuture will be forged. Decades of good intentions aside, the policies of the past have not led to ademocratic transition in Cuba. It would be equally unrealistic to expect normalizing relationsto have, in a short term, a transformational impact. After all, Cubaamp。39。s future is for Cubans toshape. Responsibility for the nature and quality of governance and accountability rests, as itshould, not with any outside entity。 but solely within the citizens of this country. But the leaders in Havana amp。ndash。 and the Cuban people amp。ndash。 should also know that the United Stateswill always remain a champion of democratic principles and reforms. Like many othergovernments in and outside this hemisphere, we will continue to urge the Cuban Governmentto fulfill its obligations under the UN and interAmerican human rights covenants amp。ndash。 obligationsshared by the United States and every other country in the Americas. And indeed, we remain convinced the people of Cuba would be best served by genuinedemocracy, where people are free to choose their leaders, express their ideas, practice theirfaith。 where the mitment to economic and social justice is realized more fully。 whereinstitutions are answerable to those they serve。 and where civil society is independent andallowed to flourish. Let me be clear: The establishment of normal diplomatic relations is not something that onegovernment does as a favor to another。 it is something that two countries do together when thecitizens of both will benefit. And in this case, the reopening of our embassies is important ontwo levels: Peopletopeople and governmenttogovernment. First, we believe itamp。39。s helpful for the people of our nations to learn more about each other, tomeet each other. That is why we are encouraged that travel from the United States to Cuba hasalready increased by 35 percent since January and is continuing to go up. We are encouragedthat more and more . panies are exploring mercial ventures here that would createoppo