mending political ties after more than six decades of hostility. the u.s. and cuban foreign ministers reach ahead of a regional summit. ♪ ♪ hello, you are watching al jazerra, also on the program more international aid and medical surprise arrive in yemen as the saudi-led air strike says enter a third week. power. gun lobby in the u.s. gets set to flex its political muscles at an annual convention. and. >> reporter: i an andrew summoned report on the ground what could be the legacy of the

world's worst nuclear disaster in chernobyl. open hard surgery on babies. ♪ ♪ hello, with the high left level meeting between two adversaries in more than 50. u.s. president program and raul castro are set to meet later it the fanaika of the americas in panama city. before that historic encounter john kerry has made progress in cuban's -- with cube's foreign minister. they are looking to restoring full diplomatic ties. it's the latest sign in improving relations between the u.s. and cuba. barack obama and raul castro reached the historic deal on december 17th. it includes easing a travel ban on u.s. citizens and lifting a trade embargo first set in 1960.

the u.s. also committed to reviewing cuban's status as a state sponsor of terrorism. cubecuba was giving the designation in 1992 and still a list of four country iies the u.s. accusing of sponsoring terrorism. cuba is hesitate to go part with its victim complex. >> it's been a rallying point for cuba for over half a censure to portray itself as a victim of u.s. aggression. denouncing sanctions gathering support from other latin america countries particularly in the last decade and a half. now all of a sudden the u.s. wants to be friends with you. it's interesting because if you see some statements by raul castro in the last month he looks like he's trying to raise the price tag of engaging the united states. he said that restoring diplomatic ties won't be

possible in the u.s. returns guantanmo to cuba unless washington phase for comprehension for 50 years of economic sanctions and so on. it looks like he's not that eager to be friends with the united states. while those talks are taking place, life continues in the capital havana where in many ways it feels like time hasn't changed. daniel met a few cuban to his find out what they think of this historic political meeting. >> reporter: time often seems to move slower in cuba. shielded from the rest of the world by the half century long u.s. embargo. and the centralized government that only allowed change when it thought the time was right. but now change is the main topic of conversation here in havana. raising hopes and expectations plus some fears. >> there are. [ inaudible ] on a number of issues that are very important for both countries. and that is the way of building blocks to build trust, which is

one of the most important things that over the last 50 years has been lost. >> reporter: with washington and havana talking and the summit in panama on the horizon everyone has opinions. and nowadays they are not afraid to express them. >> translator: the most important thing is to lift the blockade that is fundamental that's what caused our people the most damage. >> translator: the united states must establish relations with cuba to reach an agreement. they must respect one another. >> translator: what i would like to see is better human rights. more social justice and freedom of speech, that's what cubans want. >> translator: it's been 50 years of hostility, we will wait and see what happens. >> reporter: with the united states so close and the cuban exile community there so vocal cubans feel like they know their neighbors. but if this regindl friendship prospers they will get to know them a whole lot better. they have been enemies for so long. but now it's only a matter of

time before this well-guarded u.s. intersection behind me becomes the official american embassy. and before these seas that are so long subsided described divided these nations become a link to two numbers. but there is so much more to be done. first if i del castro and then his bro thursday raul have made virtue out of surviving in the face of adversity. >> i think raul castro has emphasized that he wants a civilized relationship with the united states. that he wants people to learn the art of living together with tk*eupbss. and he has accepted that the united states has some legitimate interest that shouldn't be challenged. >> reporter: more than 50 years of animosity and the resentment that that breeds will not be eliminated overnight. but there is a cautious optimism. a tangible he can pick take these days on the streets cuba. daniel, al jazerra havana.

iran has questions the framework of a deal they made last month. rouhani has demanded that all sanctions on iran be lifted on the first day of the final deal's implementation, that wasn't agreed in the framework fleshed out during marathon talks in switzerland world powers want a gradual reduction of sanctions instead. it is hoped that a deal can be finalized by june 30th. the u.s. state department has spoonsresponded to the comments made by iran. saying all final dealings will be addressed in june. >> we are not negotiating those details in public. and so i am not going to comment on his public statements. and we are not -- as this process goes forwards we are not going to react to every purr public statement made by iranian officials. abram is a former u.s. state department legal adviser responsible for u.s. iran

motions. he says securing a deal is part of iran's broader strategy in the middle east. >> iran has a very clear objectives in the middle east to create a shiite empire essentially and they are now fighting or supporting fighting in syria iraq, of course in lebanon, but now in yemen as well. so it's very hard to imagine that an agreement that is related to just one part of all of the activity that his iran is engaged in that we don't agree with and don't wish to tolerate in the long run will have a lasting impact. the generally the saudi-led coalition continues to target houthi rebels for a 16th day. let's take a look at the latest developments. 13 houthi fighters were killed. the defense ministry in sanaa was also hit. iran has stepped up its

condemnation of the attacks calling the saudi-led military intervention as a quote genocide. the u.n. security council is to vote on a draft resolution which would effectively impose an arms embargo on the houthis. the debate continues in pakistan on whether it will be joining the coalition against houthi rebels. meanwhile, some yemenis have been fleeing the violence and heading towards the border with saudi arabia, but as we report, they face further hardship when they arrive. >> reporter: they end escaped the war in yemen only to get arrested in saudi arabia. they were picked up by saudi security forces after they managed to smuggle themselves across the border. >> translator: if i could have entered legally, i would. >> translator: i am simply trying to escape the war in yemen. >> translator: i came here to find a job to feet my family. the war has destroyed everything in em yemen.

>> reporter: these border guards are secondary to the army and report to the saudi ministry of interior. but their job is crucial. >> translator: we are considered the second line of defense after the border guards. our task is to prevents any smuggling activity. >> reporter: the unit has been around since the establishment of saudi arabia. many of its personnel now following tom in the footsteps of their forefathers. >> translator: you can track a smuggler by monitoring the foot sprints, they are usually deeper and more spaced out. >> reporter: so far there has hasn't been an exodus of yemenis trying to escape nip to saudi arabia but if all ground offensive is launched or the war continues those patrolling the border could find themselves dealing with an influx of refugees. al jazerra. meanwhile, iran has stepped up its criticism. saudi-led strikes there yemen. so far the campaign has not stopped the houthi advance are but aid is slowly arriving in to

the country as this report shows. >> reporter: these are doctor from the international committee of the red cross arriving in the southern yemeni city of aden. they set by boat after their trip was approved by the saudi-led co collision. >> it's a a mandate to take care of the victims of war more specifically for us as a surgical team, we have this skills and expertise to treat this very special type of drama caused by high-speed bullets and bombs 78 united nations chief is concerned about yemen's deteriorating security and humanitarian situation. >> ordinary yemeni families are struggling for the very basics, water, food, fuel, and medicines. hundreds of civilians have been killed. hospitals and schools are shutting down, some of which are

direct touring et targets of the fighting. >> reporter: the conflict in yemen has made life difficult for millions of people. no clean water. electricity is cut most of the time. and people have to queue for days to fill their cars. >> translator: we have been waiting for four days in this queue for some gas. and today is the fifth day. we are still hopeful but due to the air strikes the gas tanks we are not able to arrive to fill at the gas station, we are still waiting. we have borrowed money for gas because of those targeting yemen and the yemeni people. >> reporter: there is discontent across the country. dozens of angry joels besieged the central bank. they say they haven't received their salaries since september when the rudies took over the capital is now. in aden is have civilians take cover where fighting continues

between houthis backed by joels level to the former president saleh and forces loyal to president mansour hadi. in the port city, hundreds flee. they have been stranded for days days. waiting for the first boat to sail away. those that are lucky board these small boards heading to east attorney africa. pakistan's parliament is supposed to vote in around an hour on whether to sends force to his the saudi-led campaign in yemen. >> reporter: the president is meeting with heads of political parties and defense officials. let get more on this now from kamal hyder who is live in the capital. kamal, parliament expected to table the resolution late this afternoon. what is it likely to say? >> reporter: well, as you mentioned, the prime minister has called all of the heads of

the parliamentary party to his come to the chamber of the speaker of the national assembly and to draft out the final resolution. the resolution is likely to include that pakistan support the territorial integrity of saudi arabia with all available means. but there is also a strong perception emerging here that a diplomatic solution should be found that while pakistan should help saudi arabia with logistics and training, it should not commit any boots on the ground in yemen. so a feeling emerging here. and after the visit of the iranian prime spinster, sorry foreign minister, it has become quite clear the pakistanis have told them that they stand shoulder shoulder with saudi arabia. and would support any deposit natural i can effort to bring the yemeni conflict to an end. >> yesterday eye run rain vinnie

foreign ministers completed the visit to pakistan what are they saying on this issue? and you how pakistan can play a part? >> reporter: well, the pakistanis have been discussing bilateral issues with the iranians as well because just a few days ago a number of border guards were killed. there is friction between iran and pakistan because certain groups are using pakistani space to infiltrate in to iranian territory. butted broader message was that pakistan will stand by the saudis that the iranians must move for a diplomatic settlement. use through communes in yemen also. the iranian plan was not accepted here. the pakistanis telling the iranians while they will support any diplomatic effort to bring the conflict to an end that they will stand with the saudis. so the draft resolution will be tabled within the next hour soar so and is likely to get overwhelming support despite

resignation by some of the parley men terriens. >> thank you kamal. still to come on al jazerra the u.n. defense chief arrives in south korea as tensions rise in the peninsula think we'll speak to an analyst on what this means to the region's security. and an exclusive report on how some syrians are having to smuggle themselves in to turkey after the borders were closed two months ago.

>> part of al jazeera america's >> special month long evironmental focus fragile planet

hello again, a reminder of the top stories on al jazerra. the united states says secretary

of state john kerry has made progress in a meeting with cuba's foreign minister, bruno rodriguez in panama city. barack obama and cuban leader raul castro are expected to meet later on friday. the highest level meeting between the countries in more than 50 years. iran has described saudi-led air strikes in generally as an active genocide. houthi fighters are continuing their advance entering the provincial capital in eastern yemen. pakistan's parliament is expected to vote on whether or not to send forces to the saudi-led campaign there. prime minister currently meeting with heads of political parties and defense officials. now, in afghanistan civilians have been killed in two separate attacks in the eads eastern city. four dead and 11 another injured. following a suicide attack on a convoy. and in the eastern province, a roadside bomb has killed 12

people. up to 3,000 people usually cross between turkey and syria every day, but for the past month there has been no activity as the boarder is closed. bernard smith reports now on the effect the closure is having on those who rely on freedom of movement. >> reporter: until a month ago mohamed could have crossed in to turk friday syria just by showing her passport as a turkey border gate. >> translator: i have been walking for two hours i just want to see my son. but there is no way of getting in to turkey. >> reporter: sheds being smuggled in because turkey has closed its border to syrians escapeing from a civil war. turkish government officials say they remain committed to an open door policy. there are 1.7 million syrians in turkey already they say. but the government can't say when the borders will reopen. between a thousand to 3,000 syrians a day would cross this border in to turkey before the

government closed it for what it says are security reasons. although emergency medical cases can still get through. now syrians can only leave turkey through it's land borders, they can't come back. security is always a concern in turkish towns along the border with syria. whether where there have been car bombings and discoveries of weapons cashes. this was a controlled explosion two weeks ago of a bomb left under the car of a free syrian army commander. >> translator: i think this was down to the militias of bashar al-assad. i might not have been the main target. the purpose of the operation might have been to destabilize security. because an incidents like this might provoke a negative reaction from turkish citizens towards syrians. that's how syrian intelligence works. >> reporter: these people were caught all smugglers tried to get them in to turkey, the speculation among syrians stuck

on either side of the border is that the government here wants to minimize any security risks before national elections in june. they fear the border could remain closed until then. bernard smith, al jazerra, on the turkey-syria border. a u.s. defense chief ashton carter is in south korea for a three-day visit. carter's trip coming among news that north korea fired two short range missiles off its western coast. defense officials saying the missiles only flew a few miles before plungeing in to the sea but it's seen as a provocation also controversy over the possible u.s. deployment of a missile defense system to south korea. ewan graham is a senior fellow at the school of international studies. he joins me now from singapore to talk more about this. so thank you for being with us. what is this latest visit going to do in terms of putting pressure on north korea and at the same time, shoring up support for it's a ally south

korea? >> i think on the symbolic side we see ashton cart never his first asian trip going to two capitals tokyo and seoul. so it shows south korea is high up the list of u.s. priorities. he's also visiting the scene of an infamous naval attack that the north koreans sank a south korean ship five years ago. however, the one significant difference between the u.s. and the r.o.k. at the moment concerns visible defense as you mentioned, but that one area is off the agenda for the talks. so in that sense, i don't think north korea will be feeling anymore pressure. >> what about this latest police ballistic missile test that occurred this week. it is the first one in a couple of years but doesn't it tell us that whatever pressure international pressure is being put on north korea on this

issue, doesn't seem to be working at this point. >> i think that's right. the u.s. is certainly worried about the long-term development of an intercontinental plastic missile capability that would give north korea the ability to put a nuclear warhead on a missile and sends it all the way to the west coast of the united states. that said, however the tests that we have seen recently have all been short range they haven't done a significant long range ballistic missile test since 2013. >> there is talk as well in washington that there is this bill that's going through the u.s. congress right now of putting pressure on north korea. economically through the u.s. dollar. it is the recognized international currency of the world. what sort of effect could that have on how north korean leaders are able to do business?

>> well, known shaly 10 hally it could have a significant effect. back in 2005 the u.s. did the same and found actually that it had unanticipated negative affect on his north korea's ability to conduct business. however, i think the north koreans learned a lesson of that and they have to some extent protected themselves from those kind of repeat sanctions in little future. above all they have the relationship with china which still gives them a degree of protection that the u.s. is unable to influence. >> good to speak with you on this ewan graham in singapore thanks for your time. now a man suspected of taking part in last week's attack on garissa university in kenya has appeared in court. rasheed charles is one of six suspects a correct. police accused him of supplying guns to kill 148 people.

he was arrested at the scene of the attack. now, thousands of children are born every year in ukraine with congenital cardiac defects. the rate has quadrupled since the 1986 nuclear accident in cher known a leadingchernobyl. a leading surgeon said babies will die if funding cuts continue. andrew sum simmonds is live in cher noel. just how acute is this problem andrew? >> reporter: well, the skyline may have changed at chernobyl with this vast art instruction true which will slide in to pace encasing nuclear reactor number four to make it safer but the legacy remains there are many of these cases of heart deflects the world health organization hasn't made any detailed research on the problem but it

has said that 4,000 premature deaths have resulted from this disaster and we went to the second city of ukraine kharkiv to see a baby operation take place. the baby, only three and a half months old is cling on the ground to life. his heart has been stopped. a machine takes over. >> without the surgery baby could not survive. >> reporter: the doctor leads what's become known as the chernobyl heart team. he says most, if not all of his cases, relate to the 1986 nuclear accident. >> these babies are so big and so strange, and not usual very high probability can be related to chernobyl disaster. >> reporter: after all this intense intricate surgery the

tiny heart is beating again. and there is now every chance this baby will survive. half an hour later and the mood is positive. >> blood pressure of baby is 96 over 52, he has a good heart raid. normal ecg. so we are happy. >> reporter: within an hour, the surgeon who carried out the operation leads her patient to intensive care. doctor olga, earns less than a taxi driver in ukraine's under-funded poorly equipped health service. she reassures the baby's mother. you can touch him she says, everything is okay. touch him. he'll feel you. >> translator: a very dig thanks to those that did the operation they have goaled hands. >> reporter: they may have golden hands but most of the funding for training and equipment has come in overseas a

charity in ireland has been at the forefront of the effort and surgeons are flown in for mere complicated efforts. but the do being tour says that may not be enough now. ukraine's government is making more budget cuts. >> we may start to lose kids just simply, we'll not be able to provide surgeries. life-saving surgeries. >> reporter: as this baby waits in line for the next operation the real at reality is unless there is more funding this might come to an end. and so a tragedy in place there possibly going to happen. and more tragedies all over this region in terms of the numbers dieing from cancer and other related diseases, that come from radioactive at this.

radioactivity. that structure behind me is another problem because there is a three quarter billion dollars funding lacking for it to be funded so until it's in place there are still dangers of raid oweradioactivity. it is the most contaminated place on earth. there will be a conference in around two weeks time to try to find the money to complete the project. andrew simmonds live for us in chernobyl. thank you. no the biggest gun lobby in the united states is gathering for its annual meeting, more than 70,000 are expected to attends this weekend's national rifle association convention in the united states state of tennessee. last year gun control activists spent millions to elect candidates favoring tighter background checks and new limits on high-powered rifle and ammunition sells but the n.r.a.

which claims a membership of more than 3 million has mobilized this political power to blunt any new federal legislation. the legendary cricket commentator and former australian captain richie has died in a sydney hospital. the 84-year-old had been receiving treatments . it. tanks, troops have given away to interrogation and intelligence in a fight for hearts and minds. on the home front a conflict has emerged pitting our need for protection against our right to privacy. i'm david shuster in for ali velshi. our special report - a smarter war on terror begins right now.