Obama to Address Cuban People in Havana Speech

Raul Castro and Barack Obama. (Photo: AP)

US President Barack Obama will take a message of reconciliation directly to the Cuban people next week, delivering a public address billed as the keystone of a historic visit to the communist-ruled island.

Obama will, on Sunday, become the first US president in 88 years to visit Cuba, a trip his advisors say will be heavily focused on taking his message to the public.

The centerpiece will be an address on Tuesday at the Gran Teatro Alicia Alonso, which the White House hopes will be televised across the country.

We see this speech as a unique moment in the history between our countries. (It will be) an opportunity for him to describe the course we are on, to review the complicated history between our countries. 

<b>Ben Rhodes, Architect of Obama’s Opening to Cuba and Senior Foreign Policy Advisor</b>

The address will also:

look forward to the future and lay out his vision of how the United States and Cuba can work together, how the Cuban people can continue to pursue a better life.

A child looks out a window from inside the newly opened US Embassy in Cuba on Friday. (Photo: AP)

Obama has championed engagement with Cuba, and diplomatic relations between the Cold War foes were restored in July of last year.