Growing Support in U.S Congress for Blockade Lifting

HAVANA, Cuba, May 28 (acn) There is growing bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress for bills that lift restrictions to travel and agricultural trade with Cuba, asserted in Havana the Democrat senator for the state of New Mexico, Tom Udall.
On a visit to Cuba with another group of Democrat lawmakers, Senator Udall said in a press conference on Wednesday that the most difficult task that lies ahead in relations between the two countries is the work at Congress, which is the one that can eliminate blockade laws.
"In the Senate we're trying to eliminate the blockade with specific legislation, such as the lifting of the travel ban and agricultural trade, among others," he pointed out, adding that he was optimistic to be able to make progress in that direction.
"The big question is how quickly we can do it, he noted. The majority of Congress persons, both Democrats and Republicans, support the lifting of restrictions to trips to Cuba.
He stressed that it does not mean this will happen tomorrow, while recalling that next year there will be a presidential campaign in the U.S., with the implications this brings. But "we are taking steps in this direction to achieve the approval of these initiatives," he specified.
Tom Udall described as a key moment in history the process of reestablishment of bilateral relations and assured that there is great support from the U.S. people for the normalization of relations, although a lot remains to be done.
For his part, Senator Alan Stuart Franken pointed out that great enthusiasm for the improvement of relations and the lifting of the blockade can be appreciated and confessed that he is among those in favor of eliminating this unfair measure.
"Even in states like Florida there is great pressure for the normalization of relations with the island, although there is a small minority who has objections," he stressed.
He reiterated that the majority of U.S. citizens are in favor of reestablishing relations, but said that "in Congress we have much work ahead."
Similarly, he reiterated how beneficial the lifting of the blockade would be for an agricultural state like Minnesota -where was elected senator-, which would allow for commercial exchanges.
In turn, Raul Grijalva, Congressman for Arizona, agreed with Senator Udall in highlighting how impressed they were with their tour of the Zapata Swamp.
"We can work together on the issue of protected areas. Out tour of the Swamp really impressed us," he underlined.
In that sense, Udall identified two key areas where the two countries can cooperate: tourism and environmental conservation and cultural exchanges.
"We participated in the Biennial Exhibition and for the first time five Cuban artists and the same number of U.S. creators have worked together in this meeting. Cultural exchanges are one of the ways friendship and understanding between peoples can deepen," stressed the congressman for New Mexico.
For his part, John B. Larson, representative for Connecticut, recalled the words of President John Kennedy of decades ago, when he said: "although we can not end our differences right now, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. Because the final analysis is the following: our most basic common link is that we all live in this small planet; we all breathe the same air; we all cherish our children's future; and we are all mortal."
The four agreed to describe their stay in Cuba as very productive. The delegation has been in Havana for the last five days and has held several exchanges with officials of the ministries for Foreign Trade and Investment, Foreign Affairs and Agriculture, members of the self-employed sector, of small cooperatives, and with investors from foreign countries on the island.