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Cuban FM slams Obama's visit as attack on island's history, culture

Xinhua, April 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Monday criticized the recent visit by U.S. President Barack Obama as "an attack" on the nation's history and culture seeking to "dazzle" its growing private sector.

Rodriguez made the remarks at the 7th Congress of Cuba's Communist Party (PCC).

"This visit saw an attack on our way of life, our history, our culture and our symbols," he said in a speech broadcast on television.

According to the chief Cuban diplomat, Obama came to "dazzle" Cubans who have entered the private sector and seek to build an opposition to the Cuban political system.

Obama went to Havana on March 20-22, the first visit by a sitting U.S. president to the Caribbean nation in 88 years. The two countries resumed bilateral ties in July 2015.

Though received with hospitality, Obama was slammed by the Cuban press for criticizing the Communist government during his stay.

At the opening of the PCC Congress on Saturday, President Raul Castro also warned of Washington's attempts to weaken Cuba's socialism.

"We cannot ignore the influence of powerful foreign forces who call for the empowerment of non-state forces, to try and create agents of change in hopes of ending the revolution and socialism in Cuba," he said. Endi