“Thank youfor your hospitality,” expressed French President François Hollande this morning, as he concluded his official visit to Cuba.
Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, President of the Councils of State and Ministers, accompanied the President to the José Martí International Airport where he bid him farewell.
When asked by journalistshow he would describeHollande's visit, the Cuban President said that the fact thathe cameto see him offpersonallywas a sign of his satisfaction withthe results of theFrench President’s stay.
Speaking to the press, Raúl said that the process of restoring relations between Cuba and the United States was going well, “at our own rhythm.”
Many question us, Raúl added, and complain that it is very slow going, but why do we have to go running to make mistakes? Above all, we do not want to take measures that sacrifice our people, that's the most important aspect. Our people understand this, he emphasized.
In this context, he commented specifically on the blockade, an issue that is yet to be resolved; “this begins now,” he noted.
Likewise, he explained that President Obama has executive powers to present and report to Congress, as he already has, that the “honorary title” of terrorist sponsoring country will be lifted.
Recalling his speech at the Summit of the Americas in Panama, Raúl specified that Cuba can not be a terrorist country, if the dead belong to us and those who attack us are still alive and well.
We have not murdered anyone, nor have we placed bombs in a single hotel. The death toll is a more than respectable 3,400 and 2,099 Cubans have been permanently disabled, he argued.
Raúl noted that once the 45 days following Congress being notified by Obama of the elimination of Cuba from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism are up, this unjust accusation will be lifted and the countries will be able to appoint ambassadors. The Cuban Foreign Ministry is currently discussing these procedures.
Once ambassadors are appointed, diplomatic relations will be restored. That is, we will have relations, but normalization of these is another issue. For that to happen, the Cuban President stressed, “the blockade must end and the Guantanamo base must be returned,” the latter a result of when the U.S. took over the country, he said.
On the future of dialogue between the European Union and Cuba, following the visit of the French head of state, Raúl said that a meeting will be held in Brussels in June.
The EU common position on Cuba should never have existed. But this will be resolved, he affirmed.
