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Visiting U.S. senators voice support for lifting embargo against Cuba

Xinhua, June 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

Visiting U.S. senator Patrick Leahy said here Saturday that the most of the congressmen and American people support the restoration of diplomatic relations with Cuba and the lifting of the economic blockade against the island.

Leahy, a Democratic Senator who led a delegation comprising of Democratic senator Benjamin Cardin from Maryland and Republican senator Dean Heller from Nevada, arrived here on Thursday.

Acknowledging at a press conference that the U.S. Congress is "divided" on restoring ties with Havana, Leahy noted that "normalization of relations will win because it is supported by the most of the Americans".

He said that now Cuba and the United States "are on the right path initiated by President Raul Castro, and President Barack Obama on December 17", when they surprised the world by announcing their mutual desire to restore diplomatic relations and begin a negotiation process aimed at normalizing the bilateral ties.

"This is a process we should have started a long time ago, because the policy of blockade maintained against the government in Havana for over half a century was a mistake, it was a move that failed, and going actually against the American interests", said the senator from Vermont.

Republican senator Heller, who was on his first visit to Cuba, said that the trip helped him greatly to understand "the reality of the island and the need to renew the bilateral ties".

"I came without any clarity on the issue and now I see the light on what actually happens", Heller said.

"I've always said that I support President Obama when he is right, and he is right on the process of normalization relations with Cuba," the Republican politician added.

Senator Cardin joined the other American Senators on the need for the U.S. Congress of lifting the blockade on Cuba, and the travel bans prohibiting his compatriots to go and see the neighboring island.

During their stay in Cuba, the three American senators were received by the First Vice President Miguel Diaz Canel and held a meeting with Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez.

In Washington, on Friday, the State Department spokesman, John Kirby, announced that the talks with Cuba to restore bilateral relations to the level of embassies have "progressed", but he avoided specifying a date for opening embassies.

The United States broke off relations with Cuba on Jan. 3, 1961, in response to the socialist measures taken by the government of the revolutionary leader Fidel Castro. Endi