Washington: US President Barack Obama called on Havana to send a signal there will be "changes in how Cuba operates" to prompt a thaw in relations, ahead of his first visit to Latin America on Thursday.
Obama called for political prisoners to be released and free speech to be allowed in order to "see a further thawing of relations" between the US and its long-time communist foe.
"I don't expect Cuba to beg. No one is asking for anyone to beg. What we're looking for is some signal that there are going to be changes in how Cuba operates," Obama told CNN hours before his departure to Mexico.
Obama announced on Monday the US would lift curbs on travel and money transfers by Cuban-Americans to the island, an attempt to defuse tensions Obama described as "an important first step."
"I think it's a signal of our good faith that we wanted to move beyond the Cold War mentality that's existed over the last 50 years. And hopefully we'll see some signs that Cuba wants to reciprocate."
From Mexico, Obama will travel to Trinidad where he will meet 33 other leaders from the Western hemisphere in a Summit of the Americas, which begins on Friday.