President Barack Obama said that the United States is extending “a hand of friendship to the Cuban people” at the time of Fidel Castro’s death. Mr Obama said in a statement that “history will record and judge the enormous impact of this singular figure on the people and world around him.” The US President noted that “discord and profound political disagreements” marked the relationship between the United States and Cuba for nearly six decades, and said he has “worked hard to put the past behind us.” Mr Obama said that in the coming days, Cubans “will recall the past and also look to the future. As they do, the Cuban people must know that they have a friend and partner” in America.