US And Cuba Are ‘Normalizing’ Relations
AMANDA MACIAS
BusinessInsider.com
DEC. 17, 2014
Cuba has released American aid worker Alan Gross, 65, the ailing US aid worker held in Cuba for five years in a reported prisoner exchange with Havana.
US officials had long cited Cuba’s refusal to free Gross as one of the biggest impediments to improved relations and had held out the possibility that his release could open the door to such steps.
Following this news, traders are buzzing.
According to US Senator Richard Durbin, Gross’ release comes with significant involvement by the Vatican. Gross’ lawyer and family have described him as mentally vanquished, gaunt, hobbling and missing five teeth.
A US official said Gross was released on humanitarian grounds and would arrive at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington at noon on Wednesday. CNN reported a prisoner exchange that also included Cuba releasing a US intelligence source and the US releasing three Cuban intelligence agents.
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