Obama calls on Congress to lift the blockade of Cuba
Granma | Wednesday, 13 January 2016 | Click here for original article
This Tuesday January 12, the President of the United States again called on Congress to lift the economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba, imposed for over half a century
WASHINGTON.—The President of the United States, Barack Obama, again called on Congress to lift the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed for over half a century on the island, this Tuesday, January 12.
“You want to consolidate our leadership and credibility in the hemisphere? Recognize that the Cold War is over. Lift the embargo (blockade),” Obama told lawmakers from both chambers of Congress, gathered in Washington to hear the last State of the Union address of the Democratic Party leader.
Obama stressed that 50 years of attempts to isolate Cuba have failed to benefit U.S. interests and damaged the country’s position in Latin America. “That’s why we restored diplomatic relations, opened the door to travel and commerce,” he added.
Obama asked Congress to lift the blockade of Cuba for the first time during his previous State of the Union address, shortly after the historic announcements of December 17, 2014.
Although several bills regarding relations between the two countries are currently before the Congress, dominated by Republicans, no major steps have been taken during the past year to dismantle the policy of aggression toward Cuba.
In his last State of the Union address, the U.S. President focused on the future of the country and the economic, social and foreign policy challenges that lie ahead.
In this regard, he emphasised the importance of addressing climate change, a reality about which there is no scientific doubt, and the global fight against terrorism.
