Thursday marked one year since President Barack Obama announced the renewed diplomatic relations with Cuba.

On Dec. 17, 2014, Obama said the decision to renew relations would bring an end to the failed U.S. policy of isolating the communist island -- located 90 miles south from Florida. Since his announcement, a series of talks have between Cuban and American government officials have focused on improving greater commerce and trade, travel and free flow of information. The U.S. government claimed the talks were aimed to better improve the lives of the Cuban population and strengthen cooperation across the Americas.

As negotiations between both countries began last January, a series of developments have been made. In May, the U.S. removed Cuba from the State Sponsor of Terrorism List following recommendations from Secretary of State John Kerry and Obama's support. According to the Obama administration, removing Cuba from the list "helped pave the way for the re-opening of embassies and increased ties" between both countries.

Their respective embassies reopened in July. A month later, Kerry visited the U.S. embassy in Havana to formally raise the U.S. flag. He became the first U.S. secretary of state to visit the island in 70 years. With the embassies reopening, the Obama administration said its diplomats have "greater freedom" to travel in Cuba and engage with the Cuban people.

"Neighbors will always have much to discuss in such areas as civil aviation, migration policy, disaster preparedness, protecting marine environment, global climate change, and other tougher and more complicated issues," said Kerry during the flag ceremony. "Having normal relations makes it easier for us to talk, and talk can deepen understanding even when we know full well we will not see eye to eye on everything."

On specific topics, Cuba and U.S. officials have engaged in talks to address environment and marine protection, counternarcotics, direct postal services and travel to the island. According to the State Department, U.S. travel to Cuba has increased 54 percent since last year.

In a statement to commemorate the one-year anniversary, Obama said, "We are advancing our shared interests and working together on complex issues that for too long defined-and divided-us. Meanwhile, the United States is in a stronger position to engage the people and governments of our hemisphere," adding that Congress should lift the Cuban embargo, which represents "a legacy of a failed policy."

"We continue to have differences with the Cuban government, but we raise those issues directly, and we will always stand for human rights and the universal values that we support around the globe," added Obama. "Change does not happen overnight, and normalization will be a long journey. The last 12 months, however, are a reminder of the progress we can make when we set the course toward a better future. Over the next year, we will continue on this path, empowering Cubans and Americans to lead the way."

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