Lifting the U.S. economic blockade imposed on Cuba for more than 50 years ago has become an essential aspect for the normalization of bilateral relations, a Cuban diplomatic source stated on Friday.
Speaking on the Roundtable television and radio program, the director of bilateral issues of the U.S. General Department at Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yuri Gala, stressed that the talks recently held to normalize bilateral ties took place in a respectful and constructive atmosphere.
However, he mentioned many necessary steps in the interest of restoring diplomatic relations, which were broken off in 1961, and the subsequent normalization of ties between Cuba and the United States.
As part of that complex and long process of normalization of relations, a key and essential element for Cuba is the lifting of the economic, commercial and financial blockade, Gala said after identifying that US measure as a great obstacle to approach between both countries.
A process towards the normalization cannot be conceived with Cuba unfairly on the unilateral list of States that sponsor international terrorism created by the US Department of State, the diplomat said.
In that regard, Gala recalled that any terrorist action against the United States has never been organized, executed, or financed from Cuba.
Gala also reiterated the need to resolve the situation of Cuba's Interest Section in Washington that for almost one year has lacked a bank to conduct its operations, due to the strengthening of financial measures as a result of the US blockade on the island.
The official also recalled that during the meeting on immigration issues, Cuba expressed concern about the continuation of the wet-foot, dry-foot policy and the Cuban Adjustment Act, which remain the main stimuli to illegal migration and human trafficking to the United States.
About the talks held on January 21-22 in Havana, as part of the process of normalization of relations, Gala stated that nobody can pretend that Cuba will renounce its principles to improve relations with Washington.