Veteran diplomat Jose Cabanas on Thursday became Cuba's first ambassador to the United States in 54 years, according to the Reuters news agency.
Cabanas, who ran Havana's de facto embassy or "Interests Section" in Washington since 2012 and became charge d'affaires when relations were formally restored on July 20, presented his credentials to U.S. President Barack Obama.
Last December, Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro agreed to restore ties snapped in 1961 during the Cold War.
Before the Cuban embassy in Washington opened in July, the United States had officially dropped Cuba from its blacklist as a state sponsor of terrorism, allowing the country to have better access to American banking facilities and aid.
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