Cuban flag to be raised in Washington

The Cuban flag will rise in Washington, D.C., for the first time in five decades on Monday in the latest step toward normalized relations between the two countries.

The flag-raising will be part of a daylong series of events commemorating the opening of a full Cuban embassy in Washington. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson, who led negotiations with the Cubans to reach the historic agreement, will be at the building, about two miles from the White House. Since 1977, the building has served as a Cuban "interests section," where officials process visas and conduct basic consular services.

Later in the day, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is scheduled to host a joint news conference with Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez at the U.S. State Department, where the Cuban flag will be added to the collection of flags from countries that have formal relations with the United States. The two first met in April during the Summit of the Americas in Panama, where they worked on normalizing relations and reopening the embassies.

Kerry is expected to travel to Cuba later this summer to conduct a similar ceremony, during which U.S. officials will raise the American flag outside what is now the U.S. Interests Section in Havana. But starting Monday, the building, which has been the target of Cuban demonstrations for decades, officially will begin operating as a U.S. embassy.

Monday's event in Washington, while largely symbolic, marks the latest step in the changing relationship that started when President Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro announced in December that the Cold War foes would move to restore diplomatic relations. Ever since, American politicians, business owners and tourists have flooded the island in anticipation of an  increase in trade and travel with the island.

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Yet many oppose Obama's opening to the communist government, which continues to maintain a tight grip over all aspects of Cuban life and suppresses free expression.

Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, who oversees the State Department's budget in the House Appropriations Committee, said on Wednesday that she would try to block any funding designed to convert the U.S. Interests Section in Havana to an embassy. State Department officials have said they'll need more personnel to conduct the added diplomatic work that comes with a full embassy

On Monday, a group of Cuban-American members of the House of Representatives are scheduled to hold a news conference in Miami objecting to the changed relationship.

While Congress may be able to limit some funds for the embassy, the decision to change the status of an American diplomatic mission abroad rests solely with the president. The State Department had to provide 15 days of notice to Congress before making the move, and Monday marks the conclusion of that notification period.

Obama has argued that establishing better ties with Cuba will spur the Castro government to allow more economic and political freedom in the country, a view opponents of the policy change doubt.