Obama-Castro spar over human rights on the first day of US Prez's visit to Cuba

According to a report by The Washington Post, the  event was marked by a jarring juxtaposition of diplomatic formality and public jousting, as Castro responded to questions from American reporters by either ignoring them or dismissing them as misguided. At one point, he challenged a U.S. journalist to "give me a name" of any alleged political prisoner here.

Appearing together after a closed-door meeting on the first full day of Obama's visit to Cuba - the first by a sitting U.S. president since 1928 - the two leaders began with magnanimous statements about the dramatic improvement in relations. Their work together "benefits not only Cuba and the United States, but the entire hemisphere," Castro said.

Obama responded that "it's fair to say the U.S. and Cubans are now engaged in more areas than at any time in my lifetime." Quoting Castro's words, he acknowledged that "the road ahead will not be easy. Fortunately, we don't have to swim with sharks to achieve the goals that you and I have set forth."

But their differences surfaced.  Obama said he had spoken "frankly" to Castro about human rights, free expression and democracy in their two-hour meeting. "Our starting point is that we have two very different systems . . . and decades of profound differences." While the United States would continue to speak its mind, he said, it would not seek to impose its system on Cuba.

Castro called on the United States to abandon the territory it occupies with a military base at Guantanamo Bay, on Cuba's southwestern tip, and to remove the U.S. embargo against Cuba. He said relations would never be fully normal until both were accomplished.

"We recognize the position President Obama is in, and the position his government holds against the blockade" - as Cuba calls the embargo - "and that they have repeatedly appealed to Congress to have it lifted," he said.

Castro said, the two countries have "profound differences that will not disappear overnight . . . such as our political system, democracy, the exercise of human rights, social justice, international relations, and world peace and stability."

In what appeared to be an angry response to a question about political prisoners here, posed by a CNN correspondent, Castro said: "If there are political prisoners, give me a list, right now. What political prisoners?"

"Give me a name or names, and if there are political prisoners, they will be free by tonight," he added.

While human rights activists say several dozen people are serving long prison sentences here for alleged political offenses, Cuba maintains that those said to be political prisoners have been convicted of common crimes.

The issue of whether the Cubans would allow questions at the Castro-Obama appearance was left open until the last minute.

Castro told reporters he had agreed that Obama could take two questions, and he would take one.

The exchanges highlighted Obama's experience in dealing with a critical media, and Castro's clear discomfort and frustration over the practice of U.S. reporters of asking multiple questions at a time. After Obama finished a lengthy response to queries directed to both leaders, he turned to Castro, who had taken off his translation earphones .

Speaking later of human rights in Cuba, Castro asked "what country complies with" all international agreements on the subject. Like others, he said, Cuba had signed some but not others.

But Cuba, he said, complied with "the most sacred" rights, the ones guaranteeing universal health care and education.

In a clear dig at the United States, he also cited those countries that "believe that for equal work, a man makes more than a woman simply because she's a woman." He added, "In Cuba, women get the same pay for the same work."

Obama began his opening statement by saying that "for more than half a century, the sight of an American president in Havana would have been unimaginable. But this is a new day. Un nuevo dia."

During the question portion of the event, Obama said he was confident that "the embargo's going to end. When, I can't be entirely sure. But I believe it will end, and the path that we're on will continue beyond my administration."

Both presidents spoke of progress they have made with new travel, agricultural and business agreements, as well as partnerships on health, education and the environment. Later in the afternoon, Obama addressed a gathering of U.S. business leaders and Cuban entrepreneurs. A state dinner hosted by Castro was the last event on Monday night's schedule