Obama asks Congress to suspend embargo on Cuba, "failed policy"

The US president, Barack Obama, said on Thursday (17) that the economic embargo imposed by their country of Cuba is "the legacy of a failed policy," to come back to ask Congress to suspend it on the first anniversary the commencement of the approach and bilateral normalization process.

In a statement on the anniversary, Obama also reiterated that the "change" in Cuba will not occur "from night to day and that complete normalization of relations" will be a long journey. "

Obama highlighted the "important steps" that took place last year to normalize relations --entre them the restoration of diplomatic ties with the reopening of embassies in Washington and Havana-- facilitate more travel and trade with Cuba, and "connect more Americans and Cubans. "

In addition, thanks to a turn in policy towards Cuba, the United States is "in a stronger position" to relate "to the peoples and governments" across the continent, according to Obama.

"We continue having differences with the Cuban government, but we put them directly and always defend human rights and the universal values ​​that we support worldwide," said the president.

On December 17, 2014, Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced the start of a historic process to normalize bilateral relations after more than half a century of enmity.

Today the two governments announced that they reached an agreement to resume direct commercial flights between the two countries, which adds up to another closed last week to restore direct postal service through a pilot mail transport and offal.

However, there are still very complex issues to resolving the mutual economic compensation and there are important differences between the two countries on issues such as immigration and human rights.

Regarding the economic embargo on the island, although Obama has taken executive measures to ease travel and some business transactions, its full suspension depends on the US Congress, controlled today by Republicans, who largely oppose its elimination.

According stressed today Obama, the US Congress "can support a better life for Cubans" with the suspension of the embargo.