12/21/2014
Cuba’s Raul Castro Foresees Long, Hard Struggle to End U.S. Embargo
In a speech before the Cuban National Assembly, Raul Castro said that with the decision to reestablish relations with the United States, an “important step” has been taken, but “the essential problem has yet to be resolved” and can only be done by the U.S. ending that policy
HAVANA – Cuban President Raul Castro warned Saturday that the “struggle” to end the U.S. embargo against the island “will be long and difficult” and will require the continued demands, both internationally and by U.S. society, for an end to that situation.
In a speech before the Cuban National Assembly, Raul Castro said that with the decision to reestablish relations with the United States, an “important step” has been taken, but “the essential problem has yet to be resolved” and can only be done by the U.S. ending that policy.
To achieve that, he hoped U.S. President Barack Obama would use “executive orders to substantially modify the blockade in those aspects that do not require congressional approval.”
The policy of economic embargo against Cuba, imposed in 1962, became law in 1996 as the Helms-Burton Act, and ending it will require action by Congress.
“All figures indicate that a vast majority of U.S. citizens want the normalization of bilateral ties with Cuba,” Raul Castro said.
The Cuban president said he was aware of the “virulent criticism” that President Obama has undergone because of his new policy toward Cuba, by “forces that oppose the normalizing of relations.”
“After decades of confrontation, they will do everything possible to sabotage this process, maybe even resorting to provocations. For our part we encourage prudent, moderate and thoughtful behavior while standing firm,” he said.
Castro said once again that Cuba will not abandon its socialist political system in spite of an accord to renew diplomatic relations with the United States, though he is ready to discuss all subjects in an atmosphere of “equality” and “reciprocity.”
“In the same way we have never proposed that the United States change its political system, we demand respect for ours,” he said.
Castro noted that it is “necessary to understand” that Cuba is a sovereign nation, whose people decided “in a free referendum” to approve its “socialist course.”
“It should not be imagined that to improve relations with the United States, Cuba will renounce the ideas for which it has fought for more than a century, for which its people have spilled so much blood and have run such great risks,” he said.
Cuba’s National Assembly backed President Raul Castro’s decision to begin the process of restoring full diplomatic relations with the United States, a historic move that brings to an end more than 50 years of enmity.
The parliament speaker, Esteban Lazo, on Friday hailed the rapprochement with the United States and the return to the island of three Cuban spies – regarded as heroes on the island – who had been serving long prison sentences in the United States.
Those members of the so-called Cuban Five spy ring, which was dismantled in 1998, were freed as part of a prisoner swap that saw the release of a Cuban man who had provided information on Cuban spy operations in the United States.
Also released as part of the diplomatic shift was U.S. government contractor Alan Gross, who had been imprisoned on the island for five years after being convicted of subversion.
The governments of Cuba and the United States announced Wednesday they will restore full diplomatic relations after more than 50 years, to be accompanied by expanded travel and other exchanges between the two countries.
source
Cuba’s Raul Castro Foresees Long, Hard Struggle to End U.S. Embargo
In a speech before the Cuban National Assembly, Raul Castro said that with the decision to reestablish relations with the United States, an “important step” has been taken, but “the essential problem has yet to be resolved” and can only be done by the U.S. ending that policy
HAVANA – Cuban President Raul Castro warned Saturday that the “struggle” to end the U.S. embargo against the island “will be long and difficult” and will require the continued demands, both internationally and by U.S. society, for an end to that situation.In a speech before the Cuban National Assembly, Raul Castro said that with the decision to reestablish relations with the United States, an “important step” has been taken, but “the essential problem has yet to be resolved” and can only be done by the U.S. ending that policy.
To achieve that, he hoped U.S. President Barack Obama would use “executive orders to substantially modify the blockade in those aspects that do not require congressional approval.”
The policy of economic embargo against Cuba, imposed in 1962, became law in 1996 as the Helms-Burton Act, and ending it will require action by Congress.
“All figures indicate that a vast majority of U.S. citizens want the normalization of bilateral ties with Cuba,” Raul Castro said.
The Cuban president said he was aware of the “virulent criticism” that President Obama has undergone because of his new policy toward Cuba, by “forces that oppose the normalizing of relations.”
“After decades of confrontation, they will do everything possible to sabotage this process, maybe even resorting to provocations. For our part we encourage prudent, moderate and thoughtful behavior while standing firm,” he said.
Castro said once again that Cuba will not abandon its socialist political system in spite of an accord to renew diplomatic relations with the United States, though he is ready to discuss all subjects in an atmosphere of “equality” and “reciprocity.”
“In the same way we have never proposed that the United States change its political system, we demand respect for ours,” he said.
Castro noted that it is “necessary to understand” that Cuba is a sovereign nation, whose people decided “in a free referendum” to approve its “socialist course.”
“It should not be imagined that to improve relations with the United States, Cuba will renounce the ideas for which it has fought for more than a century, for which its people have spilled so much blood and have run such great risks,” he said.
Cuba’s National Assembly backed President Raul Castro’s decision to begin the process of restoring full diplomatic relations with the United States, a historic move that brings to an end more than 50 years of enmity.
The parliament speaker, Esteban Lazo, on Friday hailed the rapprochement with the United States and the return to the island of three Cuban spies – regarded as heroes on the island – who had been serving long prison sentences in the United States.
Those members of the so-called Cuban Five spy ring, which was dismantled in 1998, were freed as part of a prisoner swap that saw the release of a Cuban man who had provided information on Cuban spy operations in the United States.
Also released as part of the diplomatic shift was U.S. government contractor Alan Gross, who had been imprisoned on the island for five years after being convicted of subversion.
The governments of Cuba and the United States announced Wednesday they will restore full diplomatic relations after more than 50 years, to be accompanied by expanded travel and other exchanges between the two countries.
source
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