U.S. Democrat Senators Ask for Lifting Blockade Against Cuba

Havana, Feb 17 (Prensa Latina) U.S. Democrat Senators Claire McCaskill, Amy Klobuchar and Mark Warner expressed here today their stand in favor of lifting the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by Washington on Cuba over five decades ago. That policy of unilateral sanctions is considered by Cuban authorities as the main obstacle for normalization of links between both countries.

In a press conference held at the Hotel Nacional, legislators showed their satisfacrion for their just concluded visit to Cuba and the contacts made with the government and people of the island.

Warner admitted that Cuba faces many challenges to normalization of links with the United States and one of the main obstacles is that Washington keeps the Caribbean nation in the list of countries that, according to the U.S. State Department promote terrorism.

He recalled U.S, federal agencies make a study to determine if Cuba is excluded from the list -described as unilateral and shady by Cuban authorities- but said he did not have elements to say when will that process will end.

He added that together with his colleagues, he met a wide spectrum of Cuban civil society and said the state of Virginia, which he represents at the Senate, was among the first to start doing business with the island in 2002.

McCaskill, who represents the state of Missouri in the high chamber, highlighted the visit had as main objective to exchange directly with Cubans about the impact of the historic decision announced by the presidents of both nations last 17th December of re-establishing diplomatic relations.

The Senator described as positive the contacts made the eve with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and the Director General of the United States at the Foreign Ministry, Josefina Vidal. She said was particularly impressed with the visit to the Special Development Zone of Mariel, west of Havana and the perspectives this zone offers future trade operations between Cuba and the United States, mainly in agricultural products.

On her part, Senator Klobuchar, of Minnesota, extolled the importante of the

bipartisan bill she presented to the Senate last February 12. to eliminate restrictions still blocking trade, travelling and sea transportation, among other aspects.

She affirmed Cuba has also much to offer, because not only the United Status will Benedit from a stable relation in the future, alter reestablishing diplomatic relations and eliminating Washington�s unilateral sanctions that block trade.

The legislator highlighted the significance tourism will have in the future for both neighboring nations, when U.S. government restrictions that prevent people from travelling freely to the greater of the Antilles are eradicated.

She added that attending as she does in the Senate subcommittee on that issue, she will insist on the importance that improvement in relations with the Caribbean nation has for the development of that activity.