Friday, at the U.S. embassy in Cuba flag-raising ceremony celebrating the re-establishment of diplomatic relations, Secretary of State John Kerry said he felt “very much at home” in the country ruled by the authoritarian Castro regime.

Kerry said, “Thank you for joining us at this truly historic moment, as we prepare to raise the United States flag here at our embassy in Havana, symbolizing the re-establishment of diplomatic relations after 54 years. This is also the first time that a United States secretary of state has been to Cuba since 1945. This morning, I feel very much at home here, and I’m grateful to those who have come to share in this ceremony who are standing around outside of our facilities. And I feel at home here because this is truly a memorable occasion, a day for pushing aside old barriers and exploring new possibilities.”

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