(AGI) Havana, Aug 14 - The U.S. has reopened its embassy inHavana, less than eight months after the announcement of arestoration of relations between Washington and Havana byBarack Obama and Cuban President Raoul Castro on Dec. 17 lastyear. Secretary of State John Kerry presided over the openingceremony 54 years after the rupture in diplomatic relations.Before being hoisted by three marines, the American flag washanded over by three ex-marines who had taken it down on Jan. 41961: Sargent Jim Tracy, 78, Corporal Mike East, 76, andprivate Larry Morris, 75. Mr Kerry, who was the first AmericanSecretary of State to visit Cuba since 1945, was accompanied byhis Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez. Some 20 members ofCongress and staff from the White House and the U.S.Departments of State, the Treasury, Trade, and Defence werepresent. The Senators included the Republican Jeff Flake andDemocrats Barbara Boxer, Amy Klobuchar and Patrick Leahy. Amongthe Representatives were Democrats Steve Cohen, Barbara Lee andJim McGovern, already on the island preparing the ground forthe historic re-establishment of diplomatic ties. Following theceremony Mr Kerry is due to meet members of the Cubangovernment, the Catholic Bishop of Havana and groups ofdissidents, opponents of the Communist regime at the embassy.All that remains to restore relations between the U.S. and Cubato normality is the revoking of the U.S. trade embargo. Thiscan only be done by Congress, which has had a Republicanmajority since Jan. 3, and where the anti-Castro lobby hasalready made its presence felt. This is a process over whichBarack Obama has little influence, although Mr Kerry stressedduring the ceremony that the Obama administration fullysupported removal of the embargo. Barack Obama set in motionthe process for restoring diplomatic ties by having Cubadropped from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, to whichits name was added in 1982. (AGI). .