The Blockade: Still the Main Obstacle to Normalize Bonds with the U.S.

HAVANA, Cuba, Apr 16 (acn) Army General Raul Castro, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party, reaffirmed that the blockade imposed by the United States on the island continues to be the main obstacle to the normalization of relations between the two countries.

While addressing the issue in the Central Report to the 7th Party Congress, the President of the councils of State and Ministers said that this unilateral policy imposed for over half a century noew, maintains its intimidating effects of extraterritorial scope.
Since December 17, 2014, when the presidents of Cuba and the U.S. announced their intention to reestablish diplomatic relations, concrete results in the dialogue between the two countries have been verified; however, the blockade remains in force, emphasized Raul.
In that regard, he acknowledged the willingness of U.S. President Barack Obama and of top officials of the U.S. administration against that policy, and the repeated calls to Congress in the interest of eliminating it.
He asserted that the measures announced by the U.S. head of state shortly before his visit to Havana to introduce some modifications to the implementation of this policy are positive, but not enough.
In order to move towards the normalization of relations, the siege causing hardships to the people and constituting the main obstacle to the country's economic development should be removed, in addition to returning the territory illegally occupied by the Guantanamo Naval Base, Raul emphasized.
He insisted that programs aimed at changing the political, economic and social system that the Cuban people have chosen in a sovereign way should be eliminated.
He noted that the migratory policy continues to be used as a weapon against the Revolution, since the Cuban Adjustment Act, the "dry feet-wet feet" policy and Program of Parole for medical professionals, measures that encourage illegal emigration, are still valid.
These practices do not correspond to the change of policy towards Cuba and create difficulties to third countries, considered the Army General.
In the long and complex road to normalization, Raul thanked the support of the international community, parties, political movements, social organizations, intellectuals, academicians and religious persons, artists, and leaders of farmer and student unions.
He also reiterated commitment to progressive governments in Latin America, specifically those of Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Brazil, Nicaragua and El Salvador.
To the Bolivarian Revolution –a follower of Chavez' ideas-, President Nicolas Maduro and his government, to the civil-military union of the people, we reaffirm our solidarity and commitment and express our rejection of the desire of isolating Venezuela while holding talks with Cuba, he stated.
Also while reading the main report to the Congress, Raul said that in economic and environmental matters Cuba will continue to give special priority to cooperation with the people of Haiti, and acknowledged the participation of Cuban physicians in the fight against the Ebola virus.
The Cuban president also mentioned the recent agreement reached with the Paris Club, which will favor the normalization of relations with the international financial community.
He also referred to the visit of Pope Francis to Cuba, which contributed to the progress of ties between the Holy See and the island, in addition to the historic meeting held in this capital between the Pope and Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, which showed the country's commitment to the preservation of world peace.