Obama asks Congress to remove Cuba from list of sponsors of terrorism
In a move seen as removing one of the biggest obstacles on the path to normalizing relations between the two countries after more than 54 years of embargo, on April 14, the administration of US President Barack Obama officially removed Cuba from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism established by the US.
In a move seen as removing one of the biggest obstacles on the path to normalizing relations between the two countries after more than 54 years of embargo, on April 14, the administration of US President Barack Obama officially removed Cuba from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism established by the US.
| RELATED NEWS |
|---|
A VNA correspondent in Washington quoted President Barack Obama's April 14 message to the US Congress stating that, based on the review and reassessment by the State Department, continuing to keep Cuba on the "list of countries sponsoring terrorism" is an insult to the pride of the Cuban people, and is also a major obstacle to efforts to mend relations between Washington and Havana.
 |
| US President Obama in historic talks with Cuban President Raul Castro. (Source: White House) |
This is also an important step paving the way for the two sides' desire to soon open embassies in the two countries' capitals.
By law, the US Congress will have 45 days to review and approve President Obama's proposal.
The decision to remove Cuba from the so-called "list of state sponsors of terrorism" was announced after a historic meeting on April 11 between US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro in Panama, on the sidelines of the 7th Summit of the Organization of American States (OAS). This was the first meeting between the leaders of the two countries in 56 years.
During the meeting, Mr. Obama expressed his gratitude to the Cuban President for his openness towards the US, and reaffirmed that Washington's policy towards Havana for over 50 years was outdated and ineffective. He stressed that now was the time to put the past behind and start a new path, towards a new page in the relationship between the two countries.
In response, Cuban President Raul Castro said that he agreed with President Obama's views and that although the two countries still had differences, the current general spirit was to respect each other's views and was determined to dialogue to move bilateral relations forward.
In January 1982, the US State Department placed Cuba on its "list of state sponsors of terrorism" along with Iran, Sudan and Syria.
Senator Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, immediately issued a press release affirming that removing Cuba from the "list of state sponsors of terrorism" is "a welcome step," paving the way for increased US engagement and trade with the island nation./.
According to VNA
