Cuba is open to talks with the United States about “everything” including political prisoners, President Raul Castro said on Thursday, a softening of the stance toward its long-term foe.

Cuba is said to have nearly 200 political prisoners, whom it considers mercenaries for the United States. It also strictly limits freedom of expression, puts limits to foreign travel and does not hold multi-party elections.

Obama said on Thursday there were a series of steps to recast their relationship with Cuba after so many decades since Cuba’s 1959 Revolution.

“My guidepost in U.S.-Cuba policy is going to be how can we encourage Cuba to be respectful of the rights of its people, freedom of political speech, political participation, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of travel,” he said in a news conference in Mexico.

(more from reuters)

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