Off the wire
• Alcohol restrictions cause increased ice abuse in Australian indigenous communities  • Singtel reports 4 pct up in group net profit in FY 2015  • Dutch airlines to launch direct flight to Myanmar  • S.Korea names nuclear energy negotiator as new ambassador to Russia  • News Analysis: Australian gov't "kinder" budget could help win back voters  • Johnny Depp's pet dogs may be killed by Australian authorities  • Xinhua China news advisory -- May 14  • Interview: "I'll be role model I never had," says first Afro-Asian Miss Universe Japan beauty contest winner  • Belt and Road Initiative to benefit global development: scholar  • China Hushen 300 index futures open mixed Thursday  
You are here: 　 Home

U.S. moves to mend ties with Cuba "insufficient": Ecuadorian president

Xinhua, May 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa Wednesday welcomed U.S. efforts to restore ties with Cuba, but criticized them for being insufficient, state daily Andes reported.

Before it can make any meaningful progress in the rapprochement, Washington needs to lift its trade embargo against Cuba and withdraw from Guantanamo, where it maintains a naval base and holds notorious prisons, Correa said.

"It's a good sign but (it's ) absolutely insufficient, because they haven't lifted that embargo, because they haven't withdrawn from Guantanamo, a clear symbol of 21st century colonialism that undoubtedly violates all international laws," Correa said during a meeting with foreign correspondents at government headquarters.

The joint U.S.-Cuba announcement on restoring diplomatic ties last December generated "hope" that the United States was going to change its policy toward Latin America. However, the move was followed shortly by sanctions against Venezuela, said Correa.

U.S. President Barack Obama might be well intentioned, but powerless to make substantial changes in foreign policy, he said.

Cuba and the U.S. have held three rounds of negotiations so far on a range of matters, including the opening of embassies in their respective capitals. Obama has complied with Cuba's demand that it be removed from Washington's list of alleged sponsors of terrorism, which could soon pave the way for appointing ambassadors.

Washington should not only lift the embargo, but also make reparations for the economic losses Cuba has suffered from five decades of economic, trade and financial restrictions, said Correa.

Lifting the embargo "is not a concession ... it is abiding by international law. Cuba would even have a right to indemnification, because the embargo has cost ... billions of dollars, blood, tears, it has cost the lives and well-being of the Cuban people," said Correa.

The political landscape in the Western Hemisphere will change, not because of the United States, "but because the rest of the world is changing, above all Latin America, and it won't stand any more interference, intervention and double standards", said Correa. Endi