Clinton Urges US Congress to Lift Cuba Embargo 'Once and for All'

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US Congress has to take steps toward lifting the economic embargo on Cuba, US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said during a campaign speech in Miami, Florida on Friday.

“We have arrived at a decisive moment, the Cuban people have waited long enough for progress to come,” Clinton said. “Even many Republicans on Capitol hill are starting to recognize the urgency of moving forward, it’s time for their leaders to either get on board or get out of the way. The Cuba embargo needs to go once and for all.”

Clinton also called on US House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to “answer the pleas of the Cuban people,” who want a closer relationship with the United States.

The former US state secretary stressed that Washington needs to replace the embargo with a “smarter approach” that would empower Cuban society and businesses to spur progress.

Clinton warned that going back to “failed” policy on Cuba, which restricts Cuban-Americans from traveling to the island, prevents US citizens from conducting business in Cuba and stops US religious groups and academics, would only benefit the “hardliners in Havana.”

In December 2014, US President Barack Obama announced his intention to normalize US-Cuba relations, including lifting the trade and travel embargo on Cuba and reopening embassies. Nearly seven months later, the United States and Cuba re-established diplomatic relations by opening embassies in their respective cities on July 20.

The United States maintains a congressionally mandated embargo on Cuba despite the relations normalization between the two countries. The US Congress needs to pass legislation in order to lift the nearly 50 year-old embargo.