Normalizing relations with US a 'long and difficult road', Cuba says

The resuming of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States will be a "long and difficult road", said Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, general secretary of the Workers' Central Union of Cuba (CTC), on Friday.

Guilarte de Nacimiento gave his speech at the central demonstration marking the International Workers Day at Revolution Square in Havana. The event was chaired by the Cuban President Raul Castro and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, the main political and economic ally of the Caribbean country.

Concerning the rapprochement between Havana and Washington, he stressed that "it would be a long and difficult road to walk."

He said that the normalization of relations would only advance if based on mutual respect, adding that lifting the economic, financial and trade blockade imposed by the White House on Cuba, and returning to Cuban jurisdiction the "illegally occupied" naval Base in Guantanamo Bay would also help to improving relations between the two nations.

The National Information Agency (AIN) cited Guilarte on Friday as saying that the new approach of the U.S. government towards Cuba for the process of restoration of diplomatic relations is a " source of satisfaction." He added that it would open a new chapter towards the defeat of their economic, financial and commercial blockade put in place over half a century ago.

This is the first Parade on May 1 held in Cuba after the process for restoring diplomatic ties with the United States, began on Dec. 17, 2014.

The main rally in the Cuban capital of Havana was headed by the Cuban Five (also known as the Miami Five) intelligence agents arrested in Miami in 1998. They were then sentenced to long terms in U.S. jails three years later.

Of them Rene Gonzalez and Fernando Gonzalez returned to Cuba after completing their sentences but Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labanino and Antonio Guerrero were released and sent back to their motherland as a result of a prisoner swap on the first day of the US-Cuba thawing.

Over 2 million Cubans participated on Friday in the massive rallies throughout the Caribbean island marking International Workers Day, under the slogan "United in the construction of socialism", and in support of the economic and social changes promoted by the government of President Castro.
  Xinhua - china.org.cn
2/5/15
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