President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks to reporters about the fiscal cliff in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

US President Barack Obama will embark on a historic 3-day visit to Cuba today which is expected to open a new era in the relationship between the two countries. Mr Obama, who will be the first US president to visit Cuba in 88 years, will hold talks with Cuban President Raul Castro tomorrow, followed by a joint press event and a state dinner. The visiting President will meet with Cuban dissidents on Tuesday.

Joined by his family, Mr Obama will also stroll the streets of Old Havana, besides meeting entrepreneurs and people from different walks of life.
The White House said, the visit will be another major step towards ending decades of animosity between former Cold War foes.

Meanwhile, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has rebuked Mr Obama ahead of the trip for suggesting that he would use the visit to promote change.

Rodriguez said, many of Obama’s policy changes have essentially been meaningless, and he dismissed the notion that the US President was in any position to empower Cubans.