US to take Cuba off the list of countries that sponsor terrorism
The country was included in the list in 1982
The White House announced on Tuesday that US President Barack Obama submitted certifications in order to ask for Cuba's removal from the list of nations that sponsor terrorism.
The country was in the list since 1982, when it was included for its support to Communist guerrilla movement in Latin America and in Africa.
Obama notified the Congress of his willingness to remove Cuba from the list. Cuba “has not provided any support for international terrorism” in the last six months, Obama pointed out in a letter addressed to Congress.
Cuba provided assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future
In addition, the country “provided assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future”, Obama added.
Cuba welcomed the move, and echoed it was a “fair decission”, as the country should had never included the country as a sponsor of terrorism. “Especially considering our country has been the victim of hundreds of acts of terrorism that have cost 3,478 lives and maimed 2,099 citizens,” said the Cuban government in a statement on Tuesday.
This announcement comes after US President met his Cuban counterpart President Raúl Castro in a historic meeting at the Summit of the Americas that took place on 11 and 12 April in Panama.
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