US does not give up is old policy on Cuba completely, Russian lawmaker says

MOSCOW, April 20 /TASS/. The U.S. rhetoric shows the American leadership has not given up its old policy towards Cuba and other regional states completely, Valentina Matvienko, the speaker of the Russian Federation Council /parliament’s upper house/, said after meeting the Vice-Premier of Cuban government, Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, on Monday. She said the restoration of Cuba’s dialogue with the United States was a great victory for Cuba. "You have held out and did not bow your head," the Russian lawmaker said. . "But it is necessary to bear in mind that the current US rhetoric with regards to Cuba and other Latin American countries does not mean the US is ready to give up its old plans completely," Matvienko stressed. On December 17, 2014, U.S. President Barack Obama announced his intention to normalize the diplomatic relations with Cuba and weaken some of the trade restrictions imposed on the island nation. Obama notified the Congress of his plans to exclude Cuba from a list of countries that sponsor international terrorism. He also promised some sanctions relief for Cuba. The presidential decision will take effect within 45 days if the Congress does challenge it. If that happens, the U.S. "blacklist" of terrorism sponsors will be reduced to Iran, Sudan and Syria. Read more