Cuban President Raul Castro, reiterated today before his US counterpart, Barack Obama, the need to return the territory illegally occupied in Guantánamo.
Cuban President Raul Castro, reiterated today before his US counterpart, Barack Obama, the need to return the territory illegally occupied in Guantánamo.
During a joint press statement at Havana's Palace of the Revolution, the Cuban head of state also reiterated the need to eliminate the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States for more than half a century and considered as the most important obstacle to development of Cuba while recognizing Obama's position and called on Congress to eliminate that policy.
Raul also spoke about the importance of learning the art of living in a civilized manner despite the differences and the need to promote links that favor the links of the two countries and peoples, thus he urged to "focus on what brings us together and not what separates us.”
Raul Castro acknowledged today that the measures taken by the government of Barack Obama are positive but considered that are not enough and underlined that other policies should be suppressed so that Cuba and the United States can have normal relations, and mentioned it should not be expected that the Cuban people renounce the fate of being freely and sovereignly chose and which has made immense sacrifices.
He noted that today the two countries will sign a document on cooperation in agriculture and another group of bilateral agreements negotiated to cooperate in fighting drug trafficking, trade security and travelers, and health.
On this last topic he said that Cuba and the United States increase their collaboration layered against diseases like zika and other non-communicable diseases including cancer.
In his statements to press, Raul Castro at the end of official talks with Obama during more than two hours, considered that there is a long and complex road ahead.
According to the president, destroying a bridge is easy and requires little time, but to solidly rebuild it needs a much longer and difficult task.
Translation: Liubis Balart Martínez
President Obama Ratifies Wish for Congress To Lift Blockade on Cuba
US President Barack Obama reiterated today his wish for the US Congress to approve modifications to the implementation of the blockade against Cuba before his term ends.
In a press conference at the end of official talks with his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro, Obama said that most of the changes needed depend on decision within Congress, and "I have spoken clearly about the interest that it is done under my administration."
However, he admitted that the legislative body is "not as productive as I would wish" in a year of presidential elections.
He said that his government has been aggressive in the implementation of possible modifications from the administrative area, aimed at making more flexible the application of the economic, commercial and financial siege.
At the administrative level, he said in response to a question made by a journalist, "we have made several modifications(...) and we have been aggressive to have greater flexibility," in spite that the law of the blockade has not been removed.
In this regard, he said that there technical aspects of the blockade that can be adjusted, and he cited the example of the US dollar, the use of which by Cuban entities was already approved.