Cuba says new U.S. measures are "positive" but still "very limited"

Cuba welcomed on Friday new steps taken by U.S. President Barack Obama, to make "irreversible" the relations between the former Cold War foes but said they are still "very limited" while the economic and commercial embargo stands.

The director for U.S. affairs at the Cuban Foreign Ministry Josefina Vidal said the new Presidential Policy Directive approved by Obama is positive although the document does not hide Washington's intentions of promoting economic, political and social changes in the island.

"The (U.S.) document recognizes Cuba and its government as a legitimate and equal partner and ... allows both countries and peoples to achieve a relationship of civilized coexistence within the large differences between the two governments," she said in a brief press conference.

She also indicated the document may be useful for the next American administration because it reflects the feelings of large sectors of the American society and political circles.

Vidal added the United States has no intention to stop developing "interventionist programs" that oppose the interests of the Cuban government.

"This policy directive does not hide the intention to continue developing in our country subversive programs that respond to U.S. interests and involve in them sectors of the Cuban society," she said.

On Friday, Obama issued a Presidential Policy Directive on Cuba and ordered the relaxing of a series of trade, travel and financial restrictions, another step forward to make irreversible the process of normalization of bilateral relations between the two countries that began in December 2014.

Among the changes, Cuban pharmaceutical companies could apply for U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval and sell in U.S. territory innovative products manufactured in the island.

Also, another measure would let U.S. firms provide infrastructure services to the Cuban government or nationals to directly benefit the people.

For American travelers, the biggest change is the removal of limits on the amount of rum and cigars they can pack in their luggage, strictly for personal use.

Perhaps one of the most important changes is removing the prohibition of foreign vessels entering a U.S. port to load or unload freight for 180 days after docking at a Cuban port for trade purposes.

The measures are contained in the latest Obama administration executive order on Cuba to sidestep the Republican-controlled Congress and further relax the economic and trade blockade the White House has imposed on Havana for over 50 years.

The U.S. Congress has resisted Obama's call to lift Washington's economic embargo on Cuba. Endi