Walking away from a meeting with Cuban President Raul Castro on Monday, the leader of a seven-member Congressional delegation, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), is convinced that the Cuban President would be willing to reexamine the diplomatic relationship between the United States and Cuba. She has stated, “It’s time to talk to Cuba. The moment is now.” This comes as encouraging news for anyone in favor normalizing relations with the communist state.

The US placed a trade embargo on the island in 1962 and has endured a rocky, bitter relationship with Cuba since Fidel Castro’s revolutionary government took control of the island in 1959. The meetings come as a sign that things could change sooner rather than later. Lee was enthusiastic that Raul Castro could see ending the embargo as beneficial to both countries. This news, however, may upset some members of the Cuban-American community who do not want to see relations with the communist country normalized.

A good portion of the Cuban-American community had supported President Bush’s approach to the relationship with Cuba. President Obama, however, may offer a more liberal approach to the subject. Although he has stated that the embargo would not be lifted until Cuba shows signs of progress in human rights and democracy, he is expected to loosen limits on visiting family members on the island.

Fidel Castro felt moved enough by the visit to write a statement for a Cuban newspaper concerning the visitors. The column, written on Monday, may be considered by some to be more propaganda than anything else, but definitely demonstrates his patriotism and praised the visit by Rep. Lee and the delegation. Part of the statement assess that the members of the delegation generally “believe that 68 per cent of the American public opinion favors a change in the policy towards Cuba.” Fidel met personally with the delegation the following day, April 7.

The statement also suggests Fidel’s admiration of Rep. Lee, whom he mentions meeting when she was an assistant to Rep. Ron Dellums, whose Congressional seat she would later assume. In return, Lee was impressed with Fidel’s energy and his willingness to discuss a wide array of issues. Lee was adamant in her push to bringing change to Cuban relations, stating, “The 50-year embargo just hasn’t worked.” All in all, the meetings with the Castros, the delegation’s visit and the words from Fidel are very encouraging signs. If anything, it showed that the two sides can get along, or at least be cordial to one another. Even if it was just for a few days.

This much is clear: if the United States and Cuba are going to begin talks of normalizing relations, now is the time. With a new administration assuming control in Washington and the positive signs the visit brought, now is the time to act. The delegation is said to be meeting with the President and Congress before Obama leaves for the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago on April 17.