Obama: John Kerry Will Launch Embassy in Cuba Later this Month

President Barack Obama announced on Wednesday the full normalization of relations with Cuba including opening an embassy in Havana on July 20. 

"This is a historic step forward in our efforts to normalize relations with the Cuban government and people and begin a new chapter with our neighbors in the Americas,” Obama said. 

At a White House announcement on Wednesday, Obama said U.S. Sec. of State John Kerry would be in Havana to launch the new embassy. 

“President Raul Castro and I directed our teams to negotiate the reestablishment of embassies,” Obama said. “Since then our State Department has worked hard with our Cuban counterparts to achieve that goal and later this summer Sec. Kerry will travel to Havana formally to proudly raise the American flag over our embassy once more.”