Secretary of State John Kerry and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez held a joint news conference Monday.
The news conference comes as the United States and Cuba officially restored diplomatic relations, and the Cuban flag was raised at the Cuban Embassy in Washington.
"We celebrate this day - July 20 - as a time to start repairing what has been broken and opening what for too long has been closed," Kerry said in Spanish at the news conference with Rodriguez.
Kerry tweeted that he'll be in Cuba on Aug. 14 for the raising of the American flag at the U.S. Embassy.
On August 14, it will be my honor to raise the American flag at our Embassy in Havana, #Cuba for 1st time in 56 years. #USCuba — John Kerry (@JohnKerry) July 20, 2015
Despite the historic events, there remain issues that continue to vex the U.S.-Cuba relationship.
"This milestone does not signify an end to the many differences that still separate our governments," Kerry said. "But it does reflect the reality that the Cold War ended long ago and that the interests of both countries are better served by engagement than by estrangement."
