Cuban FM: US blockade needs to be lifted unconditionally

By Neysi Hernández

HAVANA

U.S. measures to loosen a decades-long blockade against Cuba have been "very limited", the Caribbean island’s foreign minister said Tuesday.

Bruno Rodriguez is optimistic that both nations could put aside differences for the sake of improving relations, but he said although progress would not happen overnight.

Rodriguez spoke at the conclusion of a meeting with his German counterpart in Berlin, and noted the economic blockade of his country by the United States is a persistent "iceberg of the Cold War" that needs to be “lifted unconditionally.”

He also repeated Cuba’s demand for the return of Guantanamo Bay where the U.S. has operates a military prison.

The Cuban delegation visited the German Federal Parliament where they met with a representative of the German parliamentary group for Central America and Caribbean composed of representatives of all political factions in the legislature.

The chancellery for the Caribbean island said positive steps were being taking by the U.S. and Cuba to improve relations, while noting the broad potential that exists for expanding ties in different areas.

Germany leads all European countries with visitors to Havana and both countries maintained trade 2014 valued at $241 million (224 million euros).

Rodriguez’s trip is the first official visit by a representative of the Cuban government to Germany after that European country’s reunification in 1990.