Since 1961, the official US policy toward Cuba has been two-pronged, economic embargo and diplomatic isolation.

But on the eve of the Summit of the Americas Barack Obama, the US president, took a small step in normalising relations.

The Summit of the Americas is the fifth summit of its kind since 1994, which brings together 34 heads of state or government from the Americas.

Cuba's participation has been suspended since 1962 but its status in this meeting is likely to command a lot of attention.

Travel restrictions on Cuban-Americans who want to visit the communist island or send money to their homeland have been lifted.

While this move fulfilled a campaign promise and is sure to be welcomed by regional allies, president Obama has not lifted the broader decades old US trade embargo on Cuba.

Fidel Castro, the former Cuban leader, said the measures were "positive, although minimal."

The Riz Khan show discusses the issues at the heart of the US sanctions against Cuba and the way forward for the two countries.

Joining the programme will be Peter DeShazo, director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington DC and the former deputy assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs.

Also on the programme, José Azel from the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American studies at the University of Miami.

Part 1

Part 2

Sources:

Al Jazeera's Riz Khan Show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noWWpgb8urM