US Officials Call for End to Embargo Against Cuba

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States should end its trade embargo on Cuba and take the country off the State Sponsors of Terrorism list, member of the Congressional delegation to Cuba Representative Nancy Pelosi said at a press conference.

“We don’t have an embargo on any country, communist or otherwise. We shouldn’t have one on Cuba, and they should be taken off the [State Sponsors of Terrorism] list,” Pelosi said.

The official delegation from the House of Representatives visited Havana last week for the first time after US President Barack Obama announced a shift in the US-Cuba relationship in December. The US Congressmen met with Cuban government officials, Cardinal Jaime Ortega and Alamino, as well as local community leaders and US officials, who operate within the United States Interests Section, according to a statement, released by Pelosi’s office earlier.

The delegation stressed the importance of respect for human rights and urged Cuban government to incorporate members of civil society in its delegation to the April 2015 Summit of the Americas.

US President Barack Obama announced in December 2014 that he intended to normalize relations between the United States and Cuba, ease travel and trade restrictions on the island country and reopen a US embassy in Havana.