did everything he possibly could under executive authority to directly support the self employment sector and its in forms of trade and commerce, but specifically for that community. and for small farmers. the big they have got to address that. they are importing 60 to 70% of its two demands, and it cannot continue that. that huge opportunity to develop that in their own country. because of the distortions in the economy, they are unable to do that. it is important to watchwhat next few months.

i'm sure there will be a lot of turf battles -- i'm sure this and their arco rubio crew will do their best to make sure that comes out in a restrictive way. it is important that the white the e works through with presence -- president's vision. we saw in 2009 at 2011, it was and l and tight, restrictive -- there were so many difficulties. the onerous restrictions. no more restrictive licenses. you still have to go within those 12 categories. cuba as ot go to tourists. on a has made some changes

the front, bbut it is not completely done. what i heard last week in havana was that there are no deals signed yet, but we will see some deals being announced. i think this announcement will get those moving. it is not just some european companies, but chinese, and others. the idea is that that will of activity -- the panama canal, onward to latin america, and wanted to the u. s. market. on the property claims, i think is a pending matter. there are different ways of doing it, and we have with vietnam, nicaragua.

i do not think it will be exactly that model with cuba, given all the history involved, still to come. on the european side, i think the effect on the americans to get in there get in the europeans there. finally, on who were the next of change -- when i went to cuba, i had a meeting with a senior party cuba is , he told me, changing, we welcome economic growth in our economy, and we recognize inequality -- i couldn't believe what i was hearing. he recognized -- i said, who is the next generation?

he said, they are with you in this room. we were with a group of economists from the university of havana. but, more broadly, the new leadership in the party is moving up the ranks. you will see, the new vice a esident -- he came from generation below -- he comes from the provinces, he was minister of education. i think he is the guy to watch. moves ing the castro's along -- it has a certain legitimacy. i think what we see unfolding right now is a soft landing. the washington post story today is right on the money. we do not want to see a collapse of our neighbor. we want to see gradual transition. it is slow.

emphasize how to much i agree with carlos. from its ot emerge current impoverish state. most people are impoverished in cuba, and they're not getting much better. of people -- particularly people who have to remittances -- they will not make a big difference unless that is take's changes that carlos argues for. hasn't come close -- embargoes now no

sanctions, has minor and yet, cuba has to raise its mislead to become an not omically flourishing -- even prosperous. generating new income and new possibilities. i think i also agree with on the prospects of lifting the embargo depend heavily on cuba showing its willingness to take steps on its own. that is the most important thing. cuba has to move on its own. without that movement, it may wait until the next generation comes along. >> thank you. another round of questions.

i understand that someone in the lobby has a question for us. we have not mentioned the role pop francis at all. pop francis is not here -- we do not see his name on the list. okay. we start with alec? >> do you hear me? >> yeah. >> here i am. i came late last night from costa rica.

i did not have a chance to indicate that i wanted to be here. >> we are happy to be here. >> this is obviously one of the most important conversations that we've had in the last two years in the inter-american dialogue. carlos was ary saying, i think i'm talking in just made sense he about pope francis and the role of the catholic community in cuba. i truly believe that the been very moved conversation, or communication, with the holy father. i would love to see what our experts say about this. truly a there is in the future

that the months, the catholic church in resolving some of these problems will continue to be present. i trust that that will be something -- one of the matters will be discussed. of the factors which will both in havana, and possibly even here. as a catholic, the senate reviews of the holy father. i was wondering if it was just trying to get over the jeb bushes ts of nomination. or not -- at is true

i think there will be some, as time goes by, that they will decide about what they said. if someone will maybe -- you very brought together interesting group, an event held a group. if they would try and put some of the analysis on the of the church in cuba, in the united states, and in this new process. play d some small role to in this. i'd be interested to hear how this could be improved of the church might

be more useful, in the important needs that you and the economy, and moving towards a new understanding of the embargo. >> thank you. let's take that one and then go back to alec. carlos, do you want to respond? >> yes. clearly we know from all the that the ouncements played an incredibly influential role. do not know if you've seen the cartoon is circulate around the internet --

when in argentina like you becomes the pope, and when an african-american becomes the united states. i think that the pope being latin america and clearly has an enormous interest in this region. to play an d incredibly important role in the region. everybody knows the rules the a tholic church is not an itical actor -- it has interest in strengthening civil society -- because it is the right thing to do. lord knows, we have a lot of problems. there has to be a willingness to solve these problems, and i church has atholic least ically, or

recently, offered resources to make it happen. with the presence of the pope, he will continue to be strengthened. there's still a huge different rituals be sold amongst the cuban people -- that needs to be put on the table. cuba does not have the prosperity that it will need, future that deserves without a country that will come together as one people to move forward. lot of work.s a cuban-americans in miami, on the cuban government, on the cuban people. there's no better opportunity to do this then was what happened here, and the holy father.

so, i would encourage all of you to put our differences have the courage to talk and start moving forward. our country needs it, and our country to visit. >> there is another normalization process underway. that has been going on for many years, as we remember pope benedict ii, and pope calling for cuba to open itself to the world. think getting over the push of m the u. s. side -- course the meeting with pop francis and the president very but, i think there are other factors. church in catholic cuba, of course, it is not monolithic.

there are debates, especially about archbishop of havana. i think it might vindicate a bit his role as someone quietly working behind the this process e forward. an interesting space for t, and dialogue that has been trying to work on these debates in cuba. a group of them have broken off something new -- it was profiled in the new york times several weeks ago. it is worth watching them. it is a group of intellectuals who are trying to develop their own think tank. an interesting offshoot of something that start within the church, and maybe broadening out now. >> just one thing.

father mccarrick, i do not know in the ou're sitting the issue of on migration -- it is not just a political issue, but a moral issue. this also applies to cuba. think pope francis recognizes that. >> thanks. alec, we will start with you. >> i always feel to make good cardinal. i wonder the panelists will address the attitudes within the cuban armed forces. the armed nce of forces, which have extended themselves and the economy and the reaction

caster will feel. you a question? >> it is interesting to note the role that canada played in this process. this is the administration canada has been probably the opposition to cuba. there's a lot of concern in that canada would out u. s. the u. s. on its hard-line stance. so, it is interesting to note that the next candidate for elections is the son of a friend of fidel castro. have is -- to what extent is the upcoming the americas -- was

the u. s. going to attend, was going to attend? >> thanks. gustavo. >> thank you. the venezuelan aspect of the problem was not an issue in the room today. i think our speakers are right about that. but, in venezuela, it is a very especially to present maduro. carlos spoke about how eloquent was with castro. but, it he was not as eloquent with maduro. think about that'

woodrow wilson center. i want to ask this question as a longtime human rights activist. could you talk a little bit the human rights element here? this ganizations agree to policy -- but, there's another side to say that human rights will just magically improve. skeptical of that. it is possible that 10 years lot more you have a investments, and people still expressing time process ews -- a due may be just as that 10 years from now than it is today. i'm a little concerned about that. although, i agree, this is a big opportunity and policy

change, but there's nothing automatic about changing human rights. >> thank you. >> mike from the center for american studies at american university. significance is the political three prisoners from the u. s. to cuba? >> why do we turn to our speakers for final comments. i think we should also talk about what we can expect from the summit. i think this was a forcing event to bring this decision about. but also, on april 10, we will castro together with president obama and havana, what should we expect?

>> i do not know the summit a significant influence. of the , the timing summit was important in the timing of the announcement. somebody mentioned human rights rights are important, violated in are cuba, it is critical and the entire hat nation puts human rights at the forefront. i think we can do with human rights better when we are engaged, then disengage. is why the issues and needs to be put on the table. the entire community of nations has come together to understand and give cuba the opportunity to -- this is critical. this is critical for the hemisphere.

however, if you need to be clear that while cuba is has a soft landing, it does need to land. last st to pick up his of the - on the summit americas, i think it was a fortunate event for the present mobilize the process. the president didn't want to go to panama with cuba a over his head. in terms of the substance of what happens now, maybe we can turn to other issues on the inter-american agenda that need to be addressed. human rights issue, i share your skepticism. prisoners, there's this announcement of 53 to be cal prisoners released -- it is not clear to

been released e -- it may happen slowly. the question then is if months from now they will be picked up again. i think the harassment of activists will continue. to shift from throwing them in a long time to holding them for sure times. i think it happen without interruption. signal or not s a is yet to say. other points that president it ma mention, and rolled -- , is reader access greater access to the internet. there has been an information blockade on the cuban people for years, that has to change. it is really bereft of series

and other, material. there is tv -- state-controlled. that has to be addressed. given the proximity to us, it could be a breakthrough. other commitments -- monitors -- that an interesting choice if they are allowed to come. of course, the cubans would deny that they torture. on the island. wanting to has been go, aand the u. s. has been not letting him to go. i think that would be a politically motivated choice for him to go, i have confidence for him going on the right circumstances.

i think those are all small, but important steps that we can build on. the armed forces -- that's the hardest thing to understand. of course, the most important factor is the role on the economy. i think they are the most critical ingredient in a soft landing approach. if they are able to transition and have continued economic prerogative, they will accept change going forward. let me say on none of the three questions do i have an answer. on the summit of the americas it is interesting because i know only what i'm reading in

the newspaper is now. i do not know exactly what happened in the negotiations. what motivated them. i do not know what created the particular timeframe. this ated, in my mind, narrative -- that i'm sure is correct -- but i really do not pieces actly how these fit together. arrange ce to try and them -- like a jigsaw puzzle. but to really know, i think we will have to wait some time. rights issue -- that goes back to -- it is happens cial as to what in havana. make the bans open atives -- began to the internet, and by the red

cross, the united nations to come as observers. will facilitate enormously far more profound political change from the u. s.. they don't -- it will have just the other impact. it may close this window of opportunity. i do not think it will shut it, but may make it a bit more narrow. >> thank you. i want to thank all of you for us this morning -- for your great contributions and questions. to thank ted, peter, carlos -- thank you for joining us from miami. happy holidays everybody. we will see you next year.

>> here's a look at some of the programs you will find on christmas day. at iday festivities start 10:00 am. just after 12:30 pm, celebrity actors talk about the causes. at 8 pm, a debate on the founding fathers. am steven , 10:00 pinker. 12:30 pm, jill lepore. on c-span3, 8:00 am, fall the berlin wall.

first ladies' fashion. later in the day, tom brokaw. journal" is next. a look at today's news and your calls. the director of the national museum of african american joins us on "q&a." at 8:00 pm, discussion on the the justice y and system. the chief this hour, economist on the national association of realtors, lawrence yun.

also, correspondent sharyl attkisson on her book, "stonewalled: my fight for truth against the forces of obstruction, intimidation, and harrassment in obama's washington." ♪ >> good morning, everyone. congress is on holiday break, and president obama is on vacation in hawaii. in new york, ity police officers are on alert across the nation. divide the we will lines. law enforcement, we want to hear from you. please call us.