US House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Heads Delegation to Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 18 (acn) US Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi arrived in Cuba on Tuesday heading a congressional delegation, which is the first official House of Representatives delegation to the country since Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro announced the beginning of a process to reestablish bilateral diplomatic relations.

Pelosi arrived here following the departure of another three US Congress people who traveled to Cuba this week and it is the third group of US legislators since the presidential announcement took place on December 17.

"This delegation travels to Cuba in friendship and to build upon the announcement of U.S. normalization of relations and other initiatives announced by President Obama," Pelosi said. "This delegation will work to advance the U.S.-Cuba relationship and build on the work done by many in the Congress over the years, especially with respect to agriculture and trade," said Pelosi as cited by US media.

According to their agenda all nine congress people will meet with Cuban authorities, with Cardinal Jaime Ortega, American officials at the US Interest Section in Havana and with community representatives.

The Congressional delegation is made up of Elliot Engel (D-NY), Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee; Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Co-Chair, Democratic Steering and Policy Committee; Ranking Member, Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture; Collin Peterson (D-MN), Ranking Member, Agriculture Committee; Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Ranking Member, Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology; Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Ranking Member, Small Business Committee; Jim McGovern (D-MA), Co-Chair, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission; Member, Agriculture Committee; Steve Israel (D-NY), Chair, Democratic Policy and Communications Committee; Member, Appropriations Committee; David Cicilline (D-RI), Member, Foreign Affairs Committee and Judiciary Committee.

Pelosi and her delegation are scheduled to meet with the press on Thursday, February 19.

Pelosi arrived here following the visit by US senators Amy Klobuchar, Claire McCaskill and Mark Warner. The group met with foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez, business owners and civil society members and also toured a new port and farms.

"I was struck by how excited people are," Ms. Klobuchar said in an interview. Cubans stopped her on the street after recognizing her photo from press accounts describing a bill she submitted to Congress to lift the over-50-year US economic, commercial and financial blockade of the island.