Respect For Cuban Sovereignty Vital to Continue Normalization With US

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Cuba is ready to proceed with normalization of relations with the United States under the condition of no US interference into the country’s internal affairs, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez stated at Cuba’s embassy reopening ceremony in Washington, DC on Monday.

“We reaffirm Cuba’s willingness to move towards normalization with the United States in a constructive spirit, but without any prejudice whatsoever to our independence or any interference in the affairs that fall under the exclusive sovereignty of Cubans,” Rodriguez said.

The United States and Cuba officially reestablished diplomatic ties on Monday by reopening embassies in the countries’ capitals after 54 years of hostility.

“We will engage in this process as it was written by [Cuban] President Raul Castro in his letter of July 1 to [US] President [Barack] Obama, encouraged by the reciprocal intention of developing respectful and cooperative relations between our peoples and governments,” Rodriguez said.

The official reopening ceremony for the US embassy in Havana is set to take place later this summer when US Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Cuba to raise the flag over the mission.

US media reported on Monday that Kerry will visit Cuba on August 14.

The United States imposed an economic embargo on Cuba in 1960 after US property on the island had been expropriated during the Cuban Revolution.

The United States closed its embassy in Havana in 1961, severing diplomatic ties with the island nation after a Socialist government came to power, but has kept an unofficial Interests Section presence in the country.